A Gravity Falls Day
Riku felt nothing but darkness.
Darkness was always considered a bad place but sometimes people consider it a safe place. A way to hide, to avoid feeling helpless. Shadows allowed to cover one's weaknesses and hide them from anyone who would seek to exploit Riku sometimes the darkness was like that, a way to have complete control over his life, not feel like he was being controlled. To hide the weaknesses he thought would always plague him. To not feel consumed by the sorrow he always felt back home. Only now did he realize just how much he let others control him, even when fully embracing the darkness for himself.
There was also an old saying in Riku's family and that the strongest will walk while the weakest will "Sleep". However he didn't necessarily take that meaning literally.
Though his family sayings tended to alway have a certain amount of ruthlessness to them. Being the bet, staying on top they were all values that his family had drilled into him since he was younger and despite his best efforts they stuck with him. Even when seeing how the kindness in others to be of great use those lessons were still a part of him to this day.
Now they seemed to have been his undoing in the grand scheme of things.
Riku floated in the middle of an empty void of nothing, asleep and in peace as he floated in the empty midst of a white void of nothing. Nothing surrounded him. Just emptiness, no life, no darkness, no death, no decay. It was a pure void, time had standed completely still. Like a dream that one never woke up from.
It was nice and peaceful, after everything that happened to him. The destruction of his Island home, trying to find the sort of power in order to travel the world untouched, losing his friends in the process and then eventually his own body, now for once he felt at peace. Yet this peace did not feel satisfying, it was an empty peace, no sorrow, but also known happiness. Just an empty void feeling that didn't really leave much to be desired.
Still, part of Riku enjoyed sleeping, the idea of just resting for all eternity and not having to return to the realm of the living. Free from the pain of guilt of his recent actions since he left his homeworld of Destiny Island. Anyone's scorn and mistrust after everything he did, siding with Maleficent and giving into his own inner darkness only to let himself be possessed by a greater evil than anything he ever seen.
Although right now he couldn't tell if he was dead either. Last thing he remembered was him and King Mickey shutting the door to Kingdom Hearts with Sora on the other side and then...Not much after that.
Rest, it was nice to just rest, after everything had happened he wished the rest could last forever. However part of him wanted to get up, even in sleep his mind thought of Sora, his friend, and in some cases his everything.
Sora who he loved.
Sora, who had saved the world.
Sora who had gone to great lengths to find him and Kairi
Sora, who had to fight him because he gave into the darkness.
It was that decision that caused Riku to wish to remain in this dream state forever. He would rather avoid everyone and everything, knowing he didn't deserve redemption and would rather just stay away from the rest of the world. It would be easy on anyone if he no longer existed anymore and instead lived in the empty void of noting.
Felt like an eternity ago when he first met Sora all the way back on the Island. Part of him didn't even really remember how he met, just that one day when his parents allowed him to go to the beach to get some morning exercise Sora popped up towards him completely unannounced and asked if he wanted to play. Riku back then being shy said no, but oh boy was Sora persistent. He just kept talking and talking, to the point where it became annoying. However that bright energy and happy go lucky smile of his was infectious.
Their friendship bloomed but yet despite all that he tossed it all away for what. Power, power to gain freedom just so he got off his Island and the restriction he felt his family and lifestyle were giving him. It all made him feel so selfish now. Just thinking about it made him sish.
Riku thought that perhaps the best thing at the moment was to become a nobody. Sora wouldn't care, he was probably already back on the Island with Kairi, his mother, their other friends. Not like anyone needed or wanted him anyway. He would just cause trouble for everyone's sake. Best to just remain in this empty void, and becoming a nobody. It was probably for the best anyway.
"Wake up Riku"
"Huh…" Riku's eyes narrowly twitched as they began to open up. "I can't feel anything...What's going on
Everything felt numb for a brief moment and then in an instance, a swerve of emotions came rushing into his heart, the feelings intense and hard to process.
Pain. Regret. Guilt, endless boundless guilt of everything he had done in the last few months. So many emotions running through him like an endless stream. He clenched his fist, feeling his heart starting to hurt. It was a weird feeling to have, the only feeling he knew for the last few months was that of a bizarre emptiness, followed by raging hate.
The memories of what happened before began to flood back to him. Riku remembered he and the King behind the Door to Darkness. Waves of Heartless forming around them, ready to strike out against the realm of light and consume it. He was ready to die then a he is now, just so he can make amends to his friends after what he did.
"W-where am I?" Riku looked around.
All he saw was the white void around him now as he continued to float above mid air. Eventually he landed on his feet and moved around the place looking for an exit or some sort of door. All he saw though was emptiness.
"Did I get out of the darkness?" He asked himself as he rubbed the back of his head. "Hey your majesty I-"
He looked around and didn't see anything; all that was around was an empty void of grey. It was like being in limbo. Perhaps that was it, perhaps it was just limbo, penance for his turn to darkness and helping Maleficent in her conquest.
"Your majesty." His eyes widened as his voice echoed around the chamber. "King Mickey!"
There was nothing to be seen, Riku was all alone. He started to breath heavier now as panic swept over him. Alone again, and this time he wasn't in some other world, but an empty nothingness. He wished Sora was here right now, he could realize how to use his help. He tried to run in dire
"The King is far away." The voice said again, with a smug tone.
A cold voice echoed in his ear. Riku looked for it yet saw nothing.
"Leave the war against the darkness in your heart here. Stay asleep. In this area between light and darkness...In this area of nothingness"
Nothingness was an understatement, it was a complete void. Riku wasn't even sure if there was any smell or air let alone sight or sound. Though he could hear the voice clearly in his head. It was a cold deep voice, sounding almost too familiar.
"Here as long as you are blanketed by light sleep will protect you. You will never fear or hurt again."
It seemed like an easy proposition. Sleep and leave everything behind. Still that wasn't his style, he had come so far, and he wasn't about to give up and just rest. He wasn't raised that way, his extremely strict parents wouldn't dare. They taught him to push himself to the brink, it was the family way after all. It might have been the reason for some of his poor choices, but at least he gave him a sense of determination
"You want me to sleep forever," Riku took a moment to think about, "Maybe I should"
Why?'
"Because I deserve it, who would want me let alone need me" Riku said looking sad, "I mean come on, I shouldn't be let out there in the world"
You who stand in the road between the light and the darkness, someone like that MUST exist
Riku blinked and looked confused, "Stand between? I don't stand between anything, I choose darkness and my body was destroyed because of it"
It was restored
"Yeah but-" Riku bit his lip and sighed, "Should it be"
He really thought that maybe it was best if he was simply gone, lost to darkness. Why Sora or the King had wanted to restore him in the first place was still a mystery to him. He should be in darkness. Riku chose darkness. He had become darkness. So why did this person want to bring him back into the real world?
You can stay in nothing if you wish, but know that your friend Sora will then be left alone
"Wait what?" Riku looked a bit nervous, "What about Sora? Do you know anything"
I know that you being in the realm of light will give him a better chance of success then you hear
"I, uh-" Riku bit his lip and took a deep breath. He wanted to protect the things that mattered. All his life that was all he wanted, yet he had lost sight of that when he finally was able to leave Destiny Island and see the outside world.
Even if Sora didn't need him, he still wanted to help him.
"Fine" Riku groaned, standing up straight, "Guess I had a long enough nap anyway"
A flash of light finally began to engulf and then in a matter of seconds, he left the world of nothing to return to the realm of light.
After the light began to fade, Riku found himself standing in the middle of a grand forest, a road going down, and a large billboard sign standing in front of him. Riku took a moment to examine his surroundings making sure he wasn't going to get jumped by the Heartless or something far worse. He summoned his sword soul eater, a gift given to him by the witch Maleficent, always at the ready.
A few minutes passed and he put the sword down, calming himself he took a moment to figure out just what forest he was in. Last time he found himself in a strange world, he wounded up joining the wrong side.
Riku looked up and covered his face as the sun beat down on him. He wasn't used to light it seemed and rushed to a nearby tree to enjoy the shadows. After a moment of shade his heart sank, he still wasn't used to the light. Even now after everything. It made him feel sick of himself just knowing this.
Looking up he found that he was surrounded by forest. Rows upon rows of trees aligned a small road. It was quite peaceful, however a bit strange. Though everything looked normal on the surface, the trees had an eerie darkness to them. It almost had a haunting feel to it, as if the woods were filled with creatures and beings that felt unnatural. The way they were a light orange, not all of them completely green in spring. It was summer becoming fall. Even the wind had a light cool to it, sending a chill down Riku's skin as it blew into his face
"Where am I?" Riku asked as he looked around trying to find some sorta sign, "At least the road means there must be some sort of civilization"
Riku saw himself being surrounded by trees and standing in the middle of a road. The sun was high in the sky, and the place smelled of freshly cut pines. He felt his boots stepping in a few puddles of water as he walked around, looking for some sort of clue to his whereabouts.
"Look behind you." The voice called, causing Riku to flinch.
Riku turned to see a giant sign standing in front of him and read what it said aloud, "Gravity Falls ...Wait...Gravity Falls? Why do I know that name?"
He tried thinking back to everything that had happened to him. Most of it though he tried blocking from his memories for he didn't care. In hindsight perhaps listening to some of the other people around him would have been better in the long run. Instead he was just alone, and had no one around, a fitting end to his journey.
Finally the memory came to him, there were a few kids from the hub world Traverse Town who were from this place. He couldn't remember their faces, only that there was a boy and a girl, and that they had very chubby cheeks. Outside of that his had very limited knowledge of the situation.
Again the voice spoke, breaking Riku's concentration "Sora's former friends lived here, I thought that perhaps this world would be useful to you. Do you remember the Pines Family?"
"Barley," Riku muttered.
"I'm not surprised, you were quite dismissive of most of Sora's friends when he went on his first quest, the fact you recognize the name at all is a bit of a surprise to me. Though perhaps that spells something good, there is still hope for you left...Now, remember more".
Then a memory came to him, of a young girl with a grappling hook kicking him back inside Monstro, "I didn't really care at the time to get to know them. Heh...Ironic now that I need them or want to need them? I'm honestly not really sure at the moment".
"Find them, they will help you." The voice spoke. "Believe me, despite their strangers they are good people".
"I don't think anyone is interested in helping me right now". Riku grumbled
He didn't think anyone would be willing to help him right now to be honest. All the horrible things he did while he was under darkness influence. The way he acted, the way he treated people as pawns and mere tools. Why would anyone want to help him was beyond him.
"Well you are going to be here for a while until you get your stuff together. So you better befriend someone if you want shelter."
Riku sighed as he started getting ready, dusting off his pants and stretching his arms "Fine, fine…..Where do I go?"
The voice was now quite just leaving him once again alone.
"Oh sure, NOW you don't help me." Riku sighed as he looked down, kicking a nearby pinecone in annoyance "Sora ...I'm doing this for you."
With the voice gone now Riku was now alone, looks like though he was going to have to focus on this strange place, this Gravity falls. He was just standing there in the middle of the first road all by himself. No direction, no companions no nothing. Not that he wasn't use to this, all his life it had been either Sora, Riku and Kairi, but that was during the day. Throughout the rest of it he was used to being alone.
He began to march off down the road, unsure of where it might take him, heading deep into this strange place called Gravity Falls. The place was empty and it was tinge cold.
-000-
The little town of Gravity Falls, it seemed like a strange place. The many buildings looked broken and
cracked. Several average folks were walking by, talking minding their own business. Yet there was a certain air about it, something, something unnatural. Riku could just feel it standing here in view of the town. Something was off about this place
The town was run down in some areas, old timey in other areas and just weird for the whole thing. If this was the place that he was going to learn how to control his inner darkness, then it was definitely not what he was expecting.
Unlike his Island home it wasn't as posh as he was used to things. However, his journey to the other worlds had shown him way far dirtier and run down looking areas like the back alleys of Traverse Town or the slums of Agrabah. If his parents could see this place though they'd probably have a field day with it. Most likely criticizing it or just looking down on people for being rag-tag or 'petty losers' as his father would call them.
They wouldn't want their perfect son to be even around half of them. Dirty and very ragged. Quickly Riku washed those thoughts from his mind, he didn't want to judge. Instead he decided to keep pressing forward, deciding to explore the town and see what he could make of it.
"It's a miracle I was friends with Sora for all these years," Riku said aloud, as he remembered his parents high class ideas.
In reality though it was a miracle, he and Sora were cut from two very different cloths. Riku even when he was younger was so reserved, quiet, never really liked to make friends or interact with the other kids. Sora on the other hand, one couldn't get him to keep quiet. He would go up to people almost on a wim and start to talk to them, many times sadly to their annoyance.
Once Riku realized how great a friend Sora was to have he realized the people who didn't want to be his friend were missing out on something great.
The fact that Riku had become Sora's friend at all, it was a mix of curiosity and persistence. Sora would just talk and Riku would just sit there and listen.
Riku right now felt he was a weird person about to enter a weird town.
Everyone didn't seem to bother looking at him as he walked down the streets. Many passers buy minded their own business. A few teens were hanging near the back alley way, and a couple muscle bound gentlemen were standing by their motorbikes. Definitely not the friendly nature of Destiny Islands main town but small. Although this place had an odd atmosphere to it.
Something about the place, felt, strange, odd...Like this place would attract the unusual. Although that was just a hunch on Riku's part. But it did seem to have a strange scent to it, and not in a stink sort of way. It was something in the deepr atmosphere, like the very place had an underlying current of something that made it unique and stand out from other places he had visited during his first adventure. Although he had not really had time to really explore or get to know the worlds, since he was too obsessed with learning about the darkness.
Sora would love this place though, probably think the weirdness was fun and that would want to get know every inch of this world and meet every single person. Like he did throughout his first journey. It was a miracle he had gotten as far as he did without getting distracted.
Riku felt so out of place being here, being anywhere really. After being more or less alone for several months with only Maleficent or one of her goonies around, he wasn't used to just normal people, living normal lives. Parents with their kids, kids playing around, teens falling in love. Everything that used to be normal to him felt very alien. He felt very alien.
"Have been out of it for this long" Riku thought to himself, wondering if he would be able to really integrate with regular people ever again if he got back home.
Home, that was a place he was still not looking forward to getting back to. Well, he would deal with that when he crossed that bridge and not a moment earlier.
"Hold it, hold it!" A deep voice called, causing Riku to freeze, "Hold it right there stranger!"
Riku looked behind him to see two law officers arrive, one small, and one short.
"You ain't from around here" The short one said,
"Yeah, and I have an identical memory...I think...I don't remember actually, that guy over there looks strange" The tall one pointed to a random bystander, "Who am I?"
The short nodded, "Anywho, state your name and purpose"
"Um...I'm Riku?"
"Riku huh, well, what is your purpose in"
"Hey CopBro's" Behind Riku a police car with a bunch of teenagers road up, "Thanks for the ride!"
It rode off, causing the two cops to chase after it, leaving Riku just standing there unsure what to do.
"Well…" Riku sighed, "That was weird".
As he pressed on, Riku shuddered wishing he had packed a jacket or something warmer. What did he expect though when he was used to tropical Island weather. Looking around it seems to be sometime in the early fall perhaps late summer.
The further he headed into town the more Riku looked around as everyone started to disperse, if he didn't know better he would say he had just come in after the middle of some extremely well choreographed and organized. Already a few minutes in and he felt this place was strange.
"Excuse me young man," Came a tiny man with overalls, glasses, a big bushy mustache, "Your new heart, let me ask...Do these whiskers make me look like a cat?"
Riku just slowly stepped back, "Uh….."
"Oh boy, look at you kid, you got more spiky hair then a porcupine at a hair salon Or was a possum in a county jail, I get my hick saying mixed up. "
Riku turned around to suddenly see an old man with big hat and long beaded appeared to him pointing right at him, "I see your soul boy, it's a tortured soul...TORTURED I SAY, a struggle between the light of darkness is regaining your heart, and one must overcome the other or combine or your heart will return to the pit from once it's came ...Also, do you know where I can rustle me up a squirrel?"
"Um...No," Riku asked, slowly stepping back as the man just looked at him with dead eyes.
"Dang, not that I blame yuh, squirrels are the natural plotters of the world" The old man said, "Well, back to work on my robotics then, after I solve space time theory oh and then I gotta get back to work on my ever going campaign against the squirrel people...There plotting to take as all down you know"
"Uh," Riku stood there as the old man cackled widely and ran off before. "This place is strange"
"HEY KID!" Riku looked up to see a big brawling hulk like a man with an orange beard wearing a lumberjack uniform cornering him, "YEAH I'M TALKING TO YOU"!
Riku wanted to attack but felt too petrified too, "Y-Yeah?"
The big man just glared at him for a moment before saying in a quite polite voice, "You seem knew to town, I'm Manly Dan, if you need any wood cut i'm your guy, here's my card"
Riku took the business card and waved as he headed off, "I'll keep that in mind" he took a deep breath before walking off, his footsteps causing the ground to shake.
There were more important things that mattered right now, he needed to find some shelter before night hit. Sora would have loved this place though, all the strangeness and wild characters, he probably would have befriended every single person in this town already just by giving him a wave and a smile. That sweet, tender smile of his that swoon even the coldest of hearts.
Riku quickly shook his head, "No ...Can't think about that right now, I need to think about what to do next...And quick"
Whatever this place was, he hoped to find whoever he was looking for, this town was getting weirder with every passing second.
"Well" Riku sighed, "Time to make my way through Gravity Falls"
-000-
The sun began to linger upon the trees of Gravity Falls, managing to infiltrate the closed windows of the run down and decrepit looking Mystery Shack.
On the top room of what is usually the attic, Mable Pines awoke with wide eyes and a smile on her face as she slowly rose up from her lovely sheets, the light of the sun beaming down on her basking her with its warmth. She removed a few strands of her brown hair from her face, and rubbed her chubby cheeks, enjoying the sense of how squishy they were. For some reason they were extra squishy this morning and that meant she was extra adorable today .This was the sign of a good day to come.
Her life felt a pure peace since she returned home after her brief time with the Heartless and Traverse Town. Not that she hated the place, far from it. That was an adventure worth having, and she made a lot of friends along the way. Webby, Huey, Duey, Louie, Phineas and Ferb, Sora, Leon, Aeirth, Yuffie...many others. But nothing compared to the greatness of being back in Gravity Falls, her home away from home as far as she was concerned. Here she felt at her best, at peace with the world, and a place to just be herself.
Plus she also had a pet pig, that was awesome, because what girl wouldn't want to have a pig for a pet. Waddles was her pride and joy, her baby. Winning him at a fair, she had become his best friend in life ever since.
Every day she loved feeling that pigs snout rub up against her cheek, it was a sign of another great summer down at her bed Mable saw her pet pig Waddles looking at her with that blanket expression and she just beamed with delight. Just seeing his tiny face gave her the instant sense of joy she needed to begin a new day without any anxiety or stress.
"Waddles!" Mable hugged the pig tight, "Good morning my little piggy wiggy, hope you slept well"
"Oink"
"Good," Mable got off from the bed and stretched, "Well, another day, and who knows what's gonna happen right Dipper? Dipper? "Wakey wakey, it's another great day! Dipper?"
A grumbling came from the bed.
"Diiiiiiiiiper" Mable gently poked her brothers forehead. "Diiiiiper...Wakey wakey eggs and bakery"
Again more snoring.
Mabel frowned and then started violently shaking her brother, "DIPPER WAKE UP YOU BIG GOOBER!"
"ACK! WHAT'S HAPPENING! ARE WE UNDER ATTACK!" Dipper eyes burst open as he looked around for any sign of trouble, "Huh...What….MABEL!"
"Morning" Mabel beamed.
Dipper glared at her, "Thanks for waking me up"
"Your welcome Bro-Bro!" Mabel then saw a book under her brother's arm and took it from him, frowning, "Dipper? Have you been reading Grunkle Ford's journals again in the middle of the night?"
Dipper bit his lip, "Um...Maybe?"
"Dipper" Mabel sighed, giving him a concerned look, "You need to stop obsessing with it okay, ever since we got back from Traverse Town you've been obsessing over all that Keyblade mambo jambo"
"That MAMBO JAMBO nearly destroyed the world and all the other worlds in eternal darkness Mabel" Dipper grabbed the journal back, "And Grunkle Ford knew about this stuff and didn't tell any of us. There must be even deeper hidden secrets of the journals that we don't know about it"
Mable turned to the other bed to see it completely empty and frowned.
"Oh Dipper…" She sighed, shaking her head in sham, "I swear sometimes your own head is gonna get the best of you sometimes"
"I am not!"
"Then why do you also have a bunch of books on Genie's huh?" Mabel pointed to them, "Some sorta new weird obsession"
Dipper eyes darted left to right "Uh...No, Genie's...HA! W-Why would I be interested in Genies"
It was obvious, her brother was probably down in the basement there Grunkle Ford's secret lab doing research. This had been the routine ever since they got back, or at least were magically transported back. Dipper never really believed that they had truly one despite Mable's claims that Sora, who was the mythic Keyblade Warrior, one the battle against the darkness. Her brother's paranoia though one out in the end, and he made sure that something like their world being taken by the Heartless would never happen again.
Mable of course being the optimist decided to just let bygones be bygones and move forward in life. They were home, sure there Grunkle Ford was still missing...again. But they still had Grunkle Stan, they still had their home, even better they had two new pets.
"Oh Zazu...Wake up!" Mable beamed to the large bird by Dipper bed, "Time for another great day!"
Zazu was not from Gravity Falls but some other world. They met him in Traverse Town, a place from other worlds too. Just by random chance Dipper decided to 'adopt' him, because he was smart, snobby, and quite agreeable to him. Also since if Mable and waddles then why couldn't her brother have a pet of his own. Or at least some sort of companion, so Grunkle Stan agreed, besides not like Stan didn't have his own talking pet bird in Iago of Agrabah so it all seemed equal.
The old talking hornbill from another world grumbled and groaned as he began to wake grunting and groaning as he saw Mable, "Yes, Mistress Mable?"
"Mistress Mable, so polite I LOVE it...I feel like a Northwest" Mable snickered, "I just wanted to say good morning! And hello!"
"Anything else" Zazu groaned, "Perhaps you like to destroy my pride by making me wear one of those frilly dresses and join a tea party!"
"Nope, just wanted to say that"
"Goody" Zazu sighed as he rubbed his head with his blue feathers, "Oh what happened to me, one minute I was the King's advisor and now I'm a house pet for whatever you are".
Mable grabbed Zazu, engulfing him in a massive hug "And we love you!"
Zazu flew to another perch and rubbed his head, "Oh how did I get into this situation, one minute I was living on Pride Rock the next I'm stuck here in a hut in the middle of nowhere"
"See, that's another question, why is Zazu here?" Dipper pointed out, "If Sora really did fix everything shouldn't he be back home instead of here"
Mabel shrugged, "I don't know, Iago's still with us, maybe there hearts know that they belong here"
"Mine doesn't" Zazu huffed, "Mine wants to go home"
"See!" Dipper yelled.
"Again Dipper, you worry too much" Mabel waved him off and headed out.
Skipping to the window, Mable looks out to the forest, despite all the bizarre things they met from the Gnomes to the Manitors to the evil demon triangles, Gravity Falls was a place that made her feel alive. She wouldn't want to leave here for anything, this was her home, her family, her everything was.
"Well Gravity Falls! Time to attack the day! Carpe deim!"
"Ugh, too much energy for the morning" Dipper moaned, only for Mabel to grab his arm and drag him out of bed.
"I SAID CARPE DIEM!"
Finding her way down the living room she saw Soos, the handy man of the Mystery Shack working on fixing the T.V. Her Grunkle Stan sitting in his favorite chair trying to get the T.V to work. He looked grumpier with every passing second. She loved her Grunkle more than anyone...Other than her brother and parents of course. Despite his rough exterior she knew deep down that he was nothing more than a big old softie at heart. Sure it took a lot of prying...a lot, a lot, a lot of prying...But once you dug down deep enough after a few hours there would be a sensitive side in there.
Sitting next to him on his shoulder with a pudgy looking red bird with orange beak. He was the latest addition to the family, Iago, from another world named Agrabah. A talking parrot who worked for an evil sorcerer now he worked for Stan. The two of them loved to scam people out of money. So, a demotion on the bad spectrum...progress ?
"Come on Soos, I'm gonna miss my stories" Stan yelled trying to use the remote, "I need to know if Lord Worthington and Lady Ellington are gonna get the divorce or not"
Iago grunted, rubbing his big old beak in annoyance. "Yeah, and I'm gonna miss the latest addition of the Bird and the Crakers"
"Don't worry Mr. Pines I'm on, Soos the handy man is on the case" Soos began to pick up the pace connecting various wires on the back of the T.V, just trying to get the screen to show something either then static.
"Hello family!" Mable said cheerfully skipping inside, "Hope you're all having a good morning in our lovely shack in our lovely town!"
"Why do you keep saying lovely alot" Stan asked looking nervous, "It's weird"
Mable giggled, "Because Grunkle Stan, i'm just basking in the joy in knowing that we are back in our beloved Gravity Fall, after all the weirdness we had to deal with the Heartless, and bad guys, and Traverse Town, and Sora"
"Who?"
"You know Sora" Mabel replied, hoping to get the memory back, "You know, the kid with the Keyblade, he was really nice, you tried to make a lot of money off his image and heroism"
"Oh yeah" Soos replied, "Kid reminds me of one of my favoirte animes, Heroherosuperdestinyheartsfriendshipadventure, it's on season 2, another one hundred and ten episodes of amazingness"
"Soos...Your weird" Stan grumbled.
Soos laughed, "Yeah, I know, this is the season where we deal with the aftermath after the main hero Kenji defeated the great darkness only to realize that it wasn't truly defeated at all, and a far more complex story is happening"
"More complex" Dipper face turned pale, "What do you mean more complex, what if what we went through is more complex"
"Dipper" Mabel scowled.
Stan tapped his chin but merely shrugged, "Meh doesn't really matter"
"Oh, well I hope you are having a great day anyway" Mabel beamed.
"I would if the T.V was working" Stan muttered as Mable kissed his cheek, "Seriously I'm gonna miss my stories, come on Soos, put the leg work in"
"I'm trying sir" Soos said as he bent down, "Believe me, the death of T.V is a sad day for all those living on this good planet of ours"
"Ah come on Grunkle Stan isn't it such a good day to enjoy, the woods, the town, the people"
"Hate the sun, allergic to the woods and many of the people wanna kill me or I owe them money" Stan grunted, "So yah, T.V really is my only positive outlook on life"
Iago nodded, "Same for all three, plus I don't wanna get eaten by bigger birds".
"Oh come on guys" Mabel replied, "Have a little faith in the world, there are so many good people and things to do, adventure awaits, friends to be had, hearts to be changed ,and goodness and sparkles to shine"
Stan shivered, "Mabel I don't know what you've been reading but you should probably stop"
"NEVER!"
Mable rolled her eyes and sighed, sometimes she wondered why they couldn't just appreciate the wonders of the world. Gravity Falls was such a wonderful place, even Dipper knew that when he first came here with her. Granted he wanted to know all the weird science and mystery stuff. She on the other hand was okay just knowing the people.
First things first was the woods. How Mabel loved the woods, she and Dipper always tended to find some sort of mystery here among the vast swath of trees that made up Gravity Falls forest. There were all sorts of creatures here, from the Gnomes who tried to force her into a underage marriage, to the creepy shadow creatures who lurked strangely in the sunlight despite being called shadow creatures. In fact it was coming to these woods where they had found their Grunkle Ford's journal. A guide to all the mysteries of Gravity Falls and more. Of course back then they didn't know it was their Great Uncle Stan's twin brother Ford journal. It was a big mystery and conspiracy that they were uncovering together that led to a whole bunch of adventures and random chaos.
Despite all of it Mable loved all the wild chaos. It made her life spicy and interesting. Better than the dullness of back home in Pinewood California. Their life was uninteresting and she was an outcast. Here she was having adventures. That was until the Heartless destroyed her home and she found herself in the refugee world of Traverse Town, but even there she had found adventure too. Plus she got to help a hero named Sora save the universe.
So ...Pretty good run so far.
"Come on Bro! Bro!" Mable cried cheerfully, holding her brothers hand tight as they strolled deeper into the trees, "Maybe will find a new mysterious journal"
"Wouldn't that be something?" Dipper muttered, barely able to stand, he was still so tired.
Mable sighed, slowing down so he wouldn't fall and frowned, giving him a worried look "You really need to get sleep you know that right. Remember we won the day, the world was restored and all that jazz. For once in your life just relax"
"Relax" Dipper scoffed, "Grunkle Ford still isn't here, for all we know this could be a temporary thing, we need to be on guard now more than ever, and what about Bill"
"The triangle guy, come on Grunkle Ford protected the house before we left, will be fine"
Dipper sighed, "I hope your right"
"I'm always right" Mable chided with pride, "And do you know why?"
"Because you have the ego the size of the moon" Dipper snickered sticking out his tongue
Mable scoffed, "Hardly Dip, because I have faith!"
"Oooh, how comforting"
Mable rolled her eyes, "Scoff all you want, but sometimes you just gotta believe in the bright side of things and not always worry so much about everything. A little bit of faith that things will work out in the end is sometimes all you need to make it through the day"
Sometimes she wished her brother would just listen to him for once. Yes, she missed Grunkle Ford too just like anyone else, and the fact that he hadn't returned was definitely troublesome to say the least. But she liked to look on the positive side. They were back in Gravity Falls, where their world was restored. That must have meant that Sora had one against the big bad evil that was threatening everything. That had to count for something.
Though Mabel did sometimes wonder what had happened to Sora, she liked him. As a friend of course. He was a nice guy, and being a big epic hero like something out of one of her fantasy novels seemed definitely hard if it was real life. The fact that they had no way to contact some of their otherworldly friends like Webby, Huey, Duey, and Louie, even Scrooge who Stan didn't like was sad.
Though Mabel would not go as far as Dipper and lose sleep over these things, keeping a good head was a good thing and she had faith that in the end everything would always work out in the end. That's just the way she was and loved her positive attitude.
Mable and Dipper crossed through the woods together. Along the way though she could tell that her brother seemed distracted. He kept scratching his free hand while his other was firmly clenched in hers. His mind was wondering and not in a good way, but in the 'i'm paranoid right now' kinda way that always annoyed her.
Why couldn't her brother just relax for once in their life. The woods were so peaceful too. From the large tall trees that were slowly turning orange because of the closeness of fall. The lovely river streams they passed from the rocks.
"Come on Dipper, please try to focus on relaxing" Mable muttered, "It's good for you, and you'll feel better"
"How does one do both?" Dipper snickered
"Don't give me lip"
Dipper stuck out his tongue, "At least I haven't lost my sense of humor"
"Hey dudes!" A voice came, as an Axe almost hit the both of them
"WENDY!" Mabel beamed with excitement
Dipper froze his cheeks turning bright red, his hands sweating. Mabel knew exactly what that meant. That no matter how hard he tried his little brother had a massive crush on the pre-teen still. Sometimes it was hard to say no to the heart when it wanted to bad.
Wendy was another one of Stan's employees and also Dipper's big not so secret crush. She was a tall drink of water, light brown hair always in a plaid jacket with a lumberjack hat and an axe in hand. She was probably the coolest teenager they knew and a real good friend.
Plus Dipper had a major crush on her that everyone and their mothers knew. Unfortunately she didn't feel the same way. At least as of now. Mabel knew this bothered her brother a lot. But despite how hard she tried to help him get over her, it never worked. He was obsessed and it wasn't gonna get any better any time soon.
"Oh hey dudes!" Wendy wiped a bunch of sweat from her brow as she swung her axe "Didn't see you there"
"Oh ha ha ha! What a coincidence neither did we" Dipper cheeks turned dark red.
"What are you up to GirlFriend!" Mabel winked.
"Taking a nice walk" Wendy asked, leaning on her axe, "You know enjoying the forest and all that, chopping down some trees, had a battle with a squirrel"
"A what?"
"Lousy rat and its nuts," Wendy muttered.
Mable nodded, "Yep, trying to get Mr. Paranoid here to relax"
"Oh dude,-" Wendy saw Dipper and frowned, "You don't look to do"
"Ha! Ha! Never better!" Dipper smiled awkwardly, "Just peachy"
Wendy raised her eyebrow, "Well dude, you really need to take care of yourself bro. Can't have you dying on me next time I show you how to wield a axe"
"Really?" Dipper peaked up.
"Heck yeah, been working out a lot of this thing, ever since the whole Heartless thing, I've been getting ready to defend myself in case those little buggers come back!"
"Oh good idea!" Mable suggested, "Combat training, I like it!"
"Well we should try it out," Wendy winked at them.
Mable nodded taking Dipper hand and running off, "We will see you later Wendy"
As they waved goodbye Mable could see her brother's cheeks starting to turn red again. Dipper still had that crush on Wendy big time, even though she was told old for him, he was twelve she was fifteen, that wouldn't work. At least not till they both over the age of eighteen. Sometimes she wished her brother would move on, but she couldn't ask him, knowing the ways of the heart. Perhaps going into town now would be just what they needed though.
"Um, Mabel, towns that way!" Dipper said, pointing to the sign.
"Well get there, will get there, first things first" Mabel insisted as they continued to keep walking.
They were walking down the streets in between the forest, the town was still a few miles away, however this led to the Northwest section of the town. Here someone very special might pop out of their home and wait for them. They continued heading Northwest for a few more minutes, Dipper legs started to give in while Mabel still had the energy and pep of a girl on a bunch of sugar. Which helped since I was eating a lot of sugar lately.
"Here we are!" Mabel declared.
"Northwest Manor" Dipper blinked as he too looked at the large house they stood before now, "Wait...Oh wait a minute I know...Your here to see Pacifica"
Mabel blushed, "What...N-No...I know she's coming out every now and then just to say…
"Hey"
Mabel jumped as she saw her. Pacifica Northwest. Blonde hair, big eyelashes normally wearing some sort of purple vest and sparkly black pants. Heiress to a vast fortune of Gravity Falls. She used to be a whole more meaner to the Pines Twins before they helped her out with a haunted ghost. Ever since then she had gotten a lot nicer towards them, especially Mabel as of late, who apparently they had a bit more in common than they thought.
"Pacifica hi!" Mabel said straightening up a bit, "So...Still getting your own mail"
"Yeah," Pacifica said, "Trying as you suggested to...Do more myself...and that jazz"
"YAY!" Mabel clapped her hands excitedly, "I'm so proud of you Pazz!"
Pacifica then blushed, "Oh um...T-Thanks? Just doing something simple you know" she turned to Dipper, "Yeesh you look terrible, what happened you nerd out to much or something"
"Don't sleep much" Dipper glared, giving a big yawn, "So yeah I nerded out big time...but hey someone gotta do it, otherwise the universe as we know it might implode. The smart people gotta keep vigil you know"
"I have makeup that could cover that up you know" Pacifica commented, "Though it might be a bit hard...Might need to do a all nighter"
"No thanks"
Pacifica shrugged, "Whatever"
"Nice! So what else will you be up too today?" Mabel asked.
"Well not much...Gotta watch some prisoners though, mother and father are using them as forced labor?"
"Prisoners?" Mabel and Dipper said in unison.
Looking at the Northwest main entrance they saw a bunch of prisoners from the local Gravity Falls jail. They were all in their jumpsuits, most of them working on painting the walls of the mansion or laying foundations for some sort of building. Mabel looked concerned, until she became annoyed as she saw one very small but familiar looking prisoner looking right back at her with her brother with a murderous glare.
"YOU!"
"Ugh Gideon" Dipper muttered, "Of course it had to be Gideon"
Gideon Gleeful, former child physique and nemesis to the Pines family. Once upon a time he tired to throw the family out of town and destroy the Mystery Shack just so he could get his hands on the journals. Thankfully with a little sneaking around and a few punches to face Mabel and her brother Dipper were able to stop him and make him the most hated person in town. They called that a victory in their book.
"You ruined my life!" Gideon shouted with that stupid souterh accent of his.
"You did that yourself" Mabel declared, pointing a accusing finger at him "I mean come on who tries to take over the world! I mean really, also you get really weird and creepy at me, and I'm like...Uh uh...I'm a grown mature independent woman, I make my own choices thank you! NO MEANS NO FOR A REASON!"
"You were gonna be my queen!" Gideon shouted back.
Mabel stuck out her tongue,
Gideon had a crush on Mabel ever since they met. However him being evil and the fact she didn't really have an interest in him in the first place meant she wasn't that interested.
While Mabel loved, love in all its forms, when it came to Gideon that was a big no.
"Hey back off man" Dipper pushed him back, "How many times have I told you to stop harassing my sister"
Gideon sneered at him, "Oh you'll be sorry you messed with me Pines, mark my words, I will get my revenge on you and…
WACK
Gideon found himself being nailed to the ground by none other than Pacifica herself who merely glared at her.
"Will you shut it!" She sneered at him, "Stop being a weird creep around Mabel, like she said no means no! Also...She can do waaaaaay better than you, she's at least a 9 and your like a 2 maybe a 3...IF i'm being generous".
Mabel felt her body got a bit limp as she blushed. Pacifica had punched Gideon out, because of her. She wanted to hug right then and there, but showed restraint for personal boundaries which were important in any relationship whether romantic or platonic. One of many things Gideon himself never seemed to quite understand.
"Ugh, I hate that guy" Pacifica muttered, "Even when he was famous he was annoying"
"Tell me about it," Dipper grumbled.
"Well I gotta go, mother and father put me in charge if this convicts anyway" Pacifica muttered, "Least I'm bossing around people who deserve it right?"
Dipper shrugged, "Eh, there's a moral debate about the prison system in general, but honestly I'm too tired to really get into it"
"Whatevs, by Dip, by Mabel"
Mabel waved goodbye, "B-Bye bye…"
Once Pacifica was out ears reach Mabel heard a slight chuckling coming from her side.
"What!" Mabel glared at Dipper.
"You like her don't yuh"
"Um...Yes, she's really pretty...I mean...Improving...I mean!"
Dipper smirked, "Dipper and Pacifica sitting in a tree...K-I-S-S…."
BAM
Mabel's fist was where Dipper's face once was.
"I-N…..G!"
Mabel took Dipper by the hand and began dragging him across the ground, "Come on, we still have outing in town to do"
-000-
As they got near the town Mabel picked up her speed, she held her brothers hand tight as they began to run a bit faster now, her excitement getting the better at her as she saw the old town. All the rundown buildings, random people walking around and the cars buzzing through the streets. Just seeing it all made her heart swell with joy. It might have been silly but she really couldn't help it, she loved this place. This run down town in Oregon. It was weird, bizarre, strange, and that's just the way she liked it. A place where people were themselves, even if that was awkward to the untrained eye, and unhygienic, and sometimes very rude, and also just plain old mean... But the point was Mable always felt free here, more free then even back home in Piedmont with her parents. Sometimes just wished she could just stay here forever.
Dipper felt the same way, although ever since they found themselves ripped from their home he had lately been thinking of other places. His head is too much in the clouds. Wanting more and more, instead of just being happy with what they had here. Adventure was fun, but there was more to life than that. At least that's what Mabel thought. For example, Pigs, or glitter. Those were fun things.
More and more Mabel would worry about her brother, she feared what could happen if she went down the same path their Grunkle Ford went. While she did agree there was a reason he hadn't come back yet, she knew that he would be okay. Ford was a fighter and could easily survive one thing. He had managed to get sucked in one portal before he could again.
"Hello! Gravity Falls!" Mabel screamed to the high heavens.
"Mable we've been back for a while, you don't need to do that every time!" Dipper muttered.
Mable just rolled her eyes, "Just let me have this!"
"Seriously Mabel I know your happy to be back and all but I don't know" Dipper looked a bit guilty now, "We saw another world, we know we are just a tiny part of something bigger, don't you miss it"
Mabel shook her head, "The universe is cool and all but come on Dipper, nothing beats home"
Taking a deep sigh Mabel just enjoyed the glory that was her beloved Gravity Falls. She would do anything for this place. Sometimes she wished she could live here forever, it was definitely her home away from home. Although she wondered if her brother ever felt the same way. It worried her sometimes.
"Like yeah Gravity Falls is weird and cool" Dipper continued, "But come on, we went to different worlds, we know that the universe is much bigger now than it was before! We have two talking birds for pets for pete sake"
"If they can talk doesn't that make them sentient?" Mabel questioned, "Like should we even call them pets isn't that demeaning".
"Didn't you dress Zazu and Iago in some of your small tuxedo's last week?" Dippre muttered.
"I rescind my point" Mabel groaned, "Still, Dip-Dop...Come on…."
"Come on? We saw worlds Mabel! WORLDS!" Dipper waved, "What do I have to do, break out into a musical number to talk about how...I don't know...Provincial life we have"
"Would you?"
Dipper rolled her eyes, "Not unless the forces that be make me"
"Oh this spell in the journal that says called the Musica Magica Spell" Mabel pointed to a part of the book and read,
Dipper looked down confused"The Musical spell makes you sing about your most personal struggles and desires in a broadway musical fashion. Just say the words, Magica Musica Brodwayica!"
A bright light came from the book before covering everything for a moment covering the entire town. The two twins remained quiet for a brief moment.
"Hmm...DIdn't seem to work" Mabel said looking around, "Dipper say something"
Dipper
Little town.
"Huh" Dipper clasped his mouth for a moment before opening it.
Dipper
It's a qutie village
Dipper again closed his mouth.
"Oh my gosh!" Mabel's eyes widened in joy, "We're entering a musical number! Keep going...It's working"
Dipper shook his head opening up his mouth glaring at Mabel"
"Dipper!" She whined.
Dippper
Every day...Like the one before
"Keep going Dip! It's the only way to go through it"
Dipper bit his lip but sighed in defeat.
Dipper
Little town...With it's little people. Which is more to say
Citizen 1
Bonjour
Citizen 2
Bonjour
Citizen 3
Bonjour
"Gee, didn't know Gravity Falls people knew how to speak french" Mabel shrugged watching the song continue.
Dipper took her hand as they walked around town.
Dipper
There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town
"Provinical town? What is this europe" Mabel exclaimed, "We're in America Dipper, call it what it is…
"A tourist trap"
Townspeople
Look there they go, those kids are peculiar.
Dazed and distracted got no lines
Never part of any crowd
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl those Pines
Bonjour, good day
How is your family?
Bonjour, good day
How is your wife?
I need six eggs
That's too expensive!
Dipper
There must be more than this provincial life!
"Oh come on Dip-Dot, it ain't that bad" Mabel said again, the song taking a reprieve, "You never know how good you have it until it's gone right"
Dipper rolled his eyes, "Mabel! We lost our world and saw others! Others! That has to mean something right. I mean come on, they can give a keyblade to some kid, and yet you wanna stay here"
"Ah ha! I knew it" Mabel wagged a finger at him, "You still aren't over the fact you didn't get one of those key things"
"A Keyblade" Dipper responded, "And so...maybe I didn't...I'm smart, I'm special, why can't I have one"
"They're magic Dipper, and you...You don't seem like someone who should have magic"
Dipper was taken aback, "Wait why!"
"You're too...Nerdy!" Mabel said rolling her eyes, "Magic tends to be more useful when in the hands of someone who'll go with there tummy"
"You mean gut?"
"Tummy gut same thing!" Mabel exclaimed, "Point is, you shouldn't use magic"
Dipper huffed and decided to ignore his sister by reading his journal while walking.
Citizen
Look there they go those kids are a bunch of weirdos
Always bizarre like ten times.
With a dreamy far of look
Or a nose stuck in a book,
What a puzzle to the rest of us, those Pines.
Dipper
Wow isn't this amazing!
Apparently squirrels are...telepathic.
And, they collect nuts for winter.
To protect themselves from going psychopathic.
"Psycho squirrels?" Mabel asked.
Dipper nodded, "Yeah, they collect nuts to stop going nuts"
"Well I know I go nuts when I see Pacifica!"
"HA! I KNEW IT!" Dipper smirked, "You do like her"
"No I…."
Mabel
Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
Here in town there's only she
Who is the most pretty
With a voice that is charming as a belle.
"Nice rhyming scheme"
Mabel smirked, "Thanks bro bro, Oh I think I see the girls. Hey Candy and Gretta!"
"Hey Mabes!"
Candy and Gretta
Look there they go.
Our best of buddies
Mabel our plan
She's sweet and cute.
Be still my heart
Look at them going
They're funny even if a little weird.
People
Good day, mais oui!
You call this bacon, what lovely flowers
Some cheese, ten yards, one pound, excuse me I'll get the knife
Please let me through!
This bread, those fish, it's stale, they smell!
Madame's mistaken Well, maybe so
Dipper
There must be more than this provincial life
Mabel
Maybe one day Pacifica will me wife!
Citizens
Look they're they go those kids are so peculiar
A most peculiar pair one can tell
It's a pity and a sin
They don't really fit in
They really are a funny fair
A kindly but a funny pair
They're really are a funny apir
Those Pines
Bonjur
Bonjur
Bonjur
Bonjur
The song ended.
"Okay!" Dipper said, noticing everything returning to normal, "I think...The song is over"
Mabel frowned, "Ah….Everyone was speaking french"
"Whatever" Dipper then looked at Mabel with a sly grin, "So you do wanna marry Pacifica huh"
"Marry! Pfft...P-Please" Mabel blushed a little bit, "Maybe have a nice brunch or something first but marry...Y-You know...Boys haven't been working out, so you know...why not try girls"
Dipper shrugged, "Eh...I can see that, thought about it myself after Wendy went down hill"
"As happy as I am to see you be open minded Dip, I know your heart still belongs to Wendy" Mabel patted Dipper shouldly kidnkly.
"Yeah….It is"
The two of them just went around town enjoying themselves until they saw something they had never seen before. A new person entering town. Mable eyes squinted but even from afar she could tell this definitely someone she was not used to.
"A newcomer!" Mable pointed out seeing someone she didn't notice before.
Dipper squinted trying to get a good look, "Huh, must have just come, looks familiar"
"Yeah," Mable scratched her chin, "Hmm...Let's say hi!"
"Wait! Mable!"
"Hey new comer!" Mable ran up to them causing them to be startled, "Name Mable Pines! Welcome to Gravity Falls"
The figure turned around and Mable was able to get a better look at them. They were definitely teenagers like Wendy. However they seemed a bit different. Their clothes were like a yellow jacket suite and the hair, white and pale but long. Cyan eyes looking down at them both.
At first Mable wasn't sure who it was but the familiarity continued to percolate, until at least Dipper was one to remember.
"Riku!" Her brother's eyes bulged as he stepped back, "What are you doing here?"
Riku, now she remembered Sora's best friend ...The best friend that turned on him.
In a panic Mable went into a bag and took out the one thing she knew wouldn't fail her "GRAPPLING HOOK!"
She fired hitting him where the sun didn't shine and like a light, he shut down
Dipper jaw just hung open as he stared at his sister.
Mable looked down at him and realized what she did.
"Oops...Um...Let's take him back to the Shack"
Dipper sighed as he walked away, "I'll get a wagon!"
"Too much?" Mable asked looking down at the unconscious body.
Dipper could only nod looking at the unconscious body in front of him "Yep...To much"