Forget about Love ...it Sucks
"Charge!" Dipper charged towards the tree with a stick, only to quickly close balance and tumble onto the grassy plain.
After the incident with the black coated people, Dipper had been trying to actively increase his stamina in case they came back again. Get into better shape and learn more about how to fight in combat in case there was another attack. He wanted to no longer feel like he was some sort of tiny weakling, always needing help either from his sister or Grunkle Stan, but actually someone who could stand up for himself.
Everyone was saying he was being paranoid. He didn't care what his sister had been telling him, something was going on. Why hadn't Grunkle Ford returned, why hasn't anyone heard about Sora. he knew the worlds were vast and stuff, but he and his family had gone through so much back when the Heartless attacked, you'd think someone would try to make contact with them.
Now Max of all people was here, that had to mean something.
All these questions, and yet no answers but something bigger was going on. There had to be something. Maybe Bill Cipher was up to his old tricks, or maybe darker forces that even he wasn't aware of where at play here.
It also had been a few days, with Max gaining his bearings as Stan's new 'no wage employee' and Mable dealing with Riku and her 'redemption' project, that pretty much left Dipper by himself to deal with these important issues. Sometimes it felt like he was the only one dealing with these important issues. Maybe this was how his Grunkle Ford felt.
"Ugh, my head" Dipper groaned as he got back up.
"Really dude? Really" Wendy chuckled, walking up to him
Dipper instantly shot up as he turned to see Wendy leaning on a tree, axe in hand, giving him one of those classic smirks of hers. He wanted to just turn to mush right then and there, but thought against it. He didn't want to show any weakness or anything, not when he was trying to be strong and tough.
"Wendy!" He shouted, cheeks turning red, so much for not showing weakness "I-I was just-"
"Making a dork of yourself" Wendy chuckled as she helped him straighten up, "Yeah, you do that a lot don't yuh"
"Yeah," Dipper chuckled nervously.
As his cheeks turned a bit red Dipper couldn't help but always get embarrassed whenever Wendy showed up. Why did she have to be older than him, or at least why couldn't he be eighteen and she'd be what twenty one, twenty two, then at least then it wouldn't be awkward. Or at least they could get away with doing whatever at that point. Though if he wanted one thing, he just wanted answers right now. Answers to all the questions that were praying on his mind.
"You know Dipper, I'm getting worried about you" Wendy said bluntly, causing him to go stiff, "Mable's been telling me you've been getting paranoid, kid, look I know a lot of bad stuff happened to us back when those things attacked, but you can't, you can't…."
She paused, something wasn't wrong.
"Wendy? You okay?" Dipper asked, looking nervous.
Wendy just sighed and leaned against a tree, "Oh who am I kidding, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't paranoid too"
"Really?" Dipper sat next to her looking surprised, "You, paranoid, your always so chill"
"Well, yeah, it's called putting up a front dude, most teens are good at it, well some are...it depends. My point is, Dip, I get it, I honestly really do. I mean come on, I was away from my family the whole time when we were at that weird place. Only good thing was that you were there"
Dipper smiled, "Well, i'm glad you were there too, even though you know...Family and all"
"Yeah-" Wend smirked and got up, "Hey, maybe I can show you how to hold an axe that might help here take it in your hand. Can't have my favorite dork not know how to use one of these things before leaving Gravity Falls".
Dipper took the thing, it was heavy and he almost tripped. Wendy helped him back up and kept his balance, kneeling down so she could help him hold the axe a bit more.
"Good to have a tight grip" She explained,
"Got it" Dipper held it tighter.
"Now just raise your arms and give it a good swing.
Wendy helped as Dipper swung his arm and caused the axe to hit the tree causing it to get a good chunk in it.
"Woah!" Dipper gasped.
Wendy laughed, "Yes! Awesome dude! You did it!"
"Yeah-yeah I did do it! Well with your help to be fair, my skinny arms"
"Hey, with enough practice, you'll be able to get a hold of it on your own one day" Wendy then tousled his hair, "Maybe when your older"
Older.
That word, how he hated it, he was still at the end of the day just a pre-teen nothing more. Sometimes he wished he was older. Wish. That word sparked something in his mind, no matter how hard he tried to repress it, he couldn't help but think about it.
A genie's wish.
Heading back home after a good day with Wendy always left him happy, but also a bit empty inside. Sure there time together was always great, still, it was never really wanted. However Dipper always reminded himself that friendship was better than nothing. Still, just spending time with her was always good.
Dipper looked out into the trees, they were starting to turn brown indicating that sooner rather than later, fall would come, and he would leave Gravity Falls and return home to Piedmont. It made those feelings for Wendy stronger, part of him wished he could give into those selfish feelings a bit more. The feelings that wanted him and Wendy to be more than friends. If it weren't for the age thing then maybe just maybe it could work.
Perhaps if he was older in a few years, and if Wendy didn't fall in love with anyone else, then maybe, just maybe, he had a chance. A small chance but still a chance. If only love wasn't so complicated and actually felt good.
Out on the porch he could see Mable just looking out in the distance as Riku was sweeping while Soos was repairing one of the golf carts. Things had been quiet for the last few days, though it just annoyed Dipper, making him feel that everyone was letting their guard down, when they needed to be ready for anything.
"Hey Bro," Mable waved running up to him, full of energy, "Where were you"
"Oh you know, a bit of outdoor fresh air"
Mable seemed unsure. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!" Dipper said trying to get out of having an awkward conversation.
Mabel shook her head "No, somethings wrong, my Mabel sense is tingling ,tell me, tell me, TELL ME!"
"No" Dipper yelled, getting more annoyed by his sisters pestering
"Teeeeeeeellll meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee," She said, poking his cheek.
"No"
"Tell me, tell me, tell me"
"Dude you better tell her" Soos said, "Your cheek is getting really red"
He looked at Riku who just ignored the whole thing as best he could and kept sweeping up the dirt from the padeo.
"Nothing!" Dipper said again getting angier, "Yeesh, everyone on back today, was just spending some time in the woods with Wendy learning how to use an axe"
"Oh," Mable seemed impressed, "Did you trip?"
"Yes"
Mable chuckled, "Ah, you'll get the hang of it"
"Yeah, I guess"
Despite trying to smile, Dipper just frowned, again he felt weak and small right now. Remembering how tough Riku was when fighting the hooded figures. He wanted to be like that, heck even Sora was stronger than he was and he lacked important things, like strategy, and brains.
Dipper sighed
"Oh for the love of-" Mabel sighed, "This again, you're worse than Riku!"
"Worse than me what?" Mabel looked up as the two of them had arrived back at the Mystery Shack.
Riku was outside sweeping, stopping to look at Mable with that dead expression on his face.
"Your feelings towards Sora" Mabel said.
"What!" Riku blushed, causing the mop to fall from his hand "Why do people keep saying that? I don't have feelings for Sora, he's my friend...Best friend, or is, was, I'm not really sure actually...I think we made up…." he kept losing his thoughts before shaking his head coming back too "Beside's not everyone needs a love life Mabel, sometimes friendship is it's own reward. Believe me, be happy to have that, otherwise you might lose something very important".
"Oh please, Riku! I see it in the way your face gets all wowy zowy every time you think about it. It's that kinda awwww, look you know?" Mable made a weird motion, "Look, if you just reveal your feelings then you will feel better, even if he says no, it's still good to get all out. No shame in it"
Riku just remained stoic, not wanting to sow off a 'aww' look. "You know Sora doesn't feel that way about me," Riku muttered, he looked sad as he kept sweeping "He likes Kairi, they are kinda perfect for each other."
"Yeah but that's not the point, keeping emotions bottled inside is not healthy"
"Won't change anything".
"Hmm…" Mabel tapped her chin, "Then we'll need to find you a rebound guy then. That always works...What about Max, he seems nice"
Riku blinked, "Max? Goofy's kid! I don't even know him?"
"We'll never have a bad time to start, this might be a good step in your redemption arc" She took out her redemption pad and started writing something down "I keep telling Dipper too he needs a rebound gal, and now Riku needs a rebound guy. Max might be a good pick, he's around the same age, has some angst but with a good mix of optimism. A good match for you if I do say so myself, and since I am myself, I should know best".
"Mabel, love doesn't work like that! Sometimes it's okay to not have to be in a relationship." Riu insisted.
Mabel gasped, "Nonsense! I refuse to believe it, they don't call me Mabel the love god for nothing."
"We already met the actual love god." Dipper reminded her, "Remember when you, the whole love potions things, matmaker Mabel, all that jazz"
"Yeah well...I'm taking the title, so there!" Mabel stuck out her tongue in defiance. "You know my saying, if it doesn't work...FORCE IT!"
"Can you force myself to age up by a few years?" Dipper asked. "I mean I know a way but-"
Mabel frowned, "Dipper," she chatized him.
"I know, I know, magic is bad and using it for love is toxic and bad ...I know".
"Exactly, you won't get anywhere unless both parties are genuine?" Mable replied looking at her brother scoldingly.
"Aren't you the one who says to force it?"
"That's when it comes to me, not you, I have different standards".
"Hypocrite" Dipper coughed
Mabel glared at him, "What was that"
"NOTHING"
"Dipper, you need to get over Wendy. It's okay to be her friend but if you are gonna moan and groan all the time after you hang out with her then you are the one he needs to get some space. If the age gap wasn't weird enough, then at least learn to wait until that passes"
"But I don't wanna get space, and I don't wanna wait" Dipper whined, his voice like glass scratching up against each other "You don't see Riku getting space from Sora even after he's clearly got it for him."
Riku spun around blushing, instead focusing on sweeping
"Pfft, come on Riku, stop hiding it, please" Mabel snickered, "Spending time with you made me realize that your little turn to the darkside was you being jealous."
"I wasn't jealous!" Riku snapped back at her
Dipper and Mabel now looked at each other with sly smiles. Such a reaction could only mean that he was jealous. It was so obvious and Mable was able to figure it out with ease. Sometimes people did the dumbest things for love, sometimes they did horrible things for it too. History has shown that love is a powerful emotion and could be responsible for the greatest and worst things one could possibly imagine. Plus it was nice to turn the tables on himself for once.
"Ooooh, you like Sora and you were jealous," Dipper taunted changing topic.
"Ha, ha! Big tuff Riku's in love." Mable laughed too, sometimes he couldn't help herself.
Dipper laughed, "Riku and Sora sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
Riku groaned as he kept sweeping.
"Uh, Riku?" Mabel snapped her fingers in front of her face, "Earth to Riku.! We have lost contact."
"Dude, you okay?" Dipper asked.
Riku blinked for a moment "Huh, what?"
"You have that dazed look again," Mabel said with a mischievous grin in realization, "Oh, you were thinking about Sora, weren't you? Ooooh yes you were...Yes you were...Riku and Sora sitting in a tree"
"No, I wasn't."
"KI-S-S-I-N-G!"
"I'm not thinking about Sora!" Riku shouted, covering his mouth, face completely red from embarrassment.
"Yes, you were." Mabel wagged her finger teasingly at him, "Come on Riku, just admit it. You love Sora, even if he doesn't feel that way about you. The first important step is acceptance, then you go through a bit of self-loathing and anger before hopefully getting over it and moving on because at the end of the day it's his choice and no one else's and hopefully your emotions won't cause you to do something toxic and stupid that would ruin your chances even more. Even though, Riku I guess in your case you've already done that."
Riku grumbled to himself. She was clearly winning and Mable loved every second of it.
"Look, I'm just saying that if you and Sora reunite then you need to be honest with him about everything. From the bad stuff you did, to your feelings towards him. Even if he doesn't feel the same way you, you'll feel better for it."
"Unless you're me," Dipper moaned. "Basically love sucks,"
"Amen to that kid," Stan walked outside now with a can of bear in hand, "Don't want it, don't need"
Stan sat down on the bench and took a big swig.
"Believe me kids, love just leads to trouble, broken hearts, divorces and lawsuits" Stan took another sip of his beer, "Even when you get a good couple million on it, you eventually just blow it all on a trip to vegas and then you are stuck back where you're started".
"My parents wouldn't do anything about divorce" Riku muttered, "Probably just blame them both for being unbread or something".
"You love birds getting all depressed and mushy?" Flying from the sky Iago landed on the porch and laughed, "Man, you guys are pathetic! Forget about it, actually do something worthwhile. Like me and Stan."
"So scam people out of there money until they come back and sue you?" Dipper asked.
"EXACTLY!" Both Stan and Iago said, knowing what this was all about.
"I knew I liked this bird for a reason" Stan laughed.
Iago flew up and landed on Dipper's shoulder.
"Taking other people's money without a care in the world, not having to deal with all that overly emotional junk that you gotta deal with all the time. I mean, geez, do I need to sing about to express how dumb it all is?" Iago beamed, "Do I have to sing about it make it make sense"
Mabel beamed, "Song! Yes! We need a song moment!"
"Oh no," Dipper sighed, "I'll get my earplugs."
"This kid in particular needs to get over his little crush," Iago pointed to Riku,
"I don't have a -"
Iago
Forget about that guy
Forget about the way you fell into his eyes
"You're acting like Sora is suave or something," Riku muttered.
Iago
Forget about his charms
Forget about the way he held you in his arms
"We casually hugged!" Riku defended, blushing a deeper shade of red now, "It's what friends do, what don't you cuddle with friends durings naps!"
Dipper raised his eyebrow.
"Sora is a hugger okay! And he likes to take naps with me, we've been doing it since we were five! Believe me, he can sleep pretty much anywhere during anything"
"Oh please Riku you are desperate" Mable chuckld.
Iago just snickered as he pressed on.
Iago
Walking on air obnoxious
The thrills. The chills
Will make you nauseous
And you'll never get enough
Just forget about love!
"Yeah, what the bird says!" Stan came into the fray now, "Who cares, 'loving' people just gets ya into trouble. I once had a thing for this weird owl lady and let me tell yuh….It was not worth the emotions".
"Don't you love us, Grunkle Stan?" Mabel asked.
Stan seemed taken aback, "Eh, that's different. That's family bonding love, this is romantic love…"
Stan
Forget about romance
Forget about the way your heart begins to dance
Iago
Then you feel the blush
When he's spouting out some sentimental mush
Love really is revolting!
It's even worse than when you're molting
Enough of this fluff!
Just forget about love!
Mabel shook her head and looked disappointed at the both of them, "Oh come on, guys. A little romance ever hurt anyone. I'm joining this song! Time for some positive experience ...ehem"
Mabel
I had almost forgotten the way it felt
When they held out their hand for mine
My heart all a-flutter
Iago
Oh, how I shudder.
Mabel
The first time you get kissed
Stan
It won't be missed!
Forget about 'is touch
Dipper
I can't forget about her touch.
Stan/Iago
In the scheme of things,
It doesn't matter much
Mabel
It matters so muuuuuuuch
"Nice holding a note, Mabel," Dipper complimented.
"Thanks."
Stan
You're better on your own
A meal becomes a banquet
When you eat alone
Mabel shook her head disappointingly. "Hmm..hmmm..hmmm…"
Everyone but Riku
Love's filled with compromises
Iago
And don't you hate the big surprises.
Mabel
A cozy rendezvous
Iago:
Oh, please!
Mabel
Candlelight for two
Stan
Oh, geez!
Mabel
Look you're calling my bluff!
Both:
(I can't)
(Just)
forget about love!
"See guys, love can be important, it's all about how you imply it." Mabel said, "And again like I always say if it doesn't work...FORCE IT!"
"Yeah, I don't think that's gonna work with Wendy." Dipper sighed leaning back on the bench again, "Plus isn't forcing love just creating toxic relationship that will blow up in your face and just end with emotional scars"
Mabel paused, "Eh ...I haven't seen a problem with it on my end before"
"What about Gideon?"
Mabel shivered, "Well when I'm dong the forcing it mostly works"
"What about the squirrels that attacked you"
"Squirrels are the devil!"
"Okay...Okay…."
Stan just sat down next to him and drank a beer, "Well. we tried. Might as well just sulk."
"I hear that?" Dipper said
Mabel merely huffed off, "Pfft...Men".
"Girls," Dipper huffed as he headed back in the room, "Sometimes I wish I could just ...wish to be stronger"
Maybe, maybe it was time he finally just gave in and did it...Perhaps it was time to finally use that lamp, just once.
-000-
When night came and everyone was asleep in the shack.
Dipper made sure that no one was awake before he made his way downstairs to his Grunkle Ford's cabin and pulled out the lamp. If he was going to do this he needed to be as far away from the Shack as possible so that no one would think of stopping him. Of course the minute he pulled out the dark artifact the evil vizier began to rant and rave to him about this, that and the other thing. He tried his best to ignore him as he entered deep into the forest.
It would have to be far, far enough that perhaps no one would be able to find him, or get any indication that he was going to make this wish. Would there be consequences yes, would they be worth it, well...That is why Dipper had properly worded his wish, he knew Genie's could be a trick and Jafar would be the worst of them all.
"So….Finally decided to give and wish" Jafar hissed, a glimmer of excitement in his tone "Though for what? Fame? Power, a Kingdom of your own...I've heard and observed enough to feel your inadequacies, to be in the shadow of greater hero's. First your Great Uncle, then the miserable Keyblade Brat who probably doesn't deserve it."
Dipper rolled his eyes as he kept walking, "Pfft, please, I'm that dumb, just wish to be older"
"How old...One hundred, one million?" Jafar chuckled.
"Nope, Wendy's age, fifteen, that way we can date and it won't be awkward"
"Love…" Jafar sneered "The thing that has caused and harmed so much over the centuries"
"Please stop making this harder then this already is" Dipper hissed, "Believe me, I want to know a bit more, but right now being older might just be the thing, and stronger too"
"So two wishes is the price"
"I ...Stop confusing! I have this all planned out, we just need to get to the proper spot"
"Ha! Face it boy at the end you like me, just wish to no longer be second rate to anyone else".
Finally they arrived near Lake Gravity Falls, not the most clever name, but there were a few strange things here. Like the Gobbewonker which was the equivalent of the Loch Ness monster, and then some sort of floating Island eating head. Thankfully Dipper and Mable managed to escape one time, although unfortunately Mable stuffed animal Bear-O, a horrible puppet also survived. Regardless this would be far enough for Dipper to begin his experiment.
Dipper had to do this, it would be a little experiment, be older for a bit then wish himself back to normal when the experiment yielded results. Or stay older forever, marry Wendy and have a family of 2.5 kids. He didn't understand why the .5 part even existed, wouldn't it just be three kids. Granted Wendy might not want kids, he'd have to ask to her when the experiment worked.
"Okay," Dipper took a deep breath putting the lamp down, "I can do this…"
He looked at the lamp and took a deep breath. Unleashing all powerful Genie to make a simple wish.
"Maybe I shouldn't" Dipper heisated and started pacing and back and forth now, "I mean, just wishing to be older, maybe I could wish for Grunkle Ford back, but then again he might be a skeleton, well, maybe I can wish to know were he is...Or maybe wish to know stuff, but what stuff"
"Choices, choices...The power of the wish is strong isn't it" Jafar snickered, "To have an almost unlimited amount of power, all by using one single word. It is rather tempting isn't it. I should know, I had that power once myself.
"Shut up!" Dipper hissed before pacing again, "Then again, wishing to be older and stronger might lead me to get those things...Hmm...Maybe I should..."
"DIPPER!"
Dipper froze and turned around, Mable was walking up to him now, and she was not happy.
"M-Mable? Uh...W-What are you doing here?"
"Stopping you from doing something dumb that's what?"
"Wait, have you been following you"
"Duh" Mable said glaring at him, "Don't think I don't know if you've had that thing for a while...Well actually I didn't, Iago told me he saw you with it, and then I followed".
From behind her Iago was slowly flying behind him looking nervous.
"Iago!" Dipper scowled, "Why?"
"Don't think I wouldn't recognize Jafar's constant nagging" The parrot yelled flying up to the lamp so that his peak was over the lid, his voice echoing, "YOU KNOW GOOD LOUSY STINKIN-"
"IAGO! You treacherous parrot, see Master, never trust a parrot" Jafar hisse.d
"And never trust a two bit wizard!" Iago yelled back, "Yeah, that's right, I said it!"
With a flash Jafar lamp blasted a burst of energy at Iago almost hitting him where he stood.
"Ha! Missed!"
"See!" Mable pointed at the lamp, "That thing is dangerous, he's dangerous, and you're going to use it to what? Be older, find Grunkle Ford? I don't even Grunkle Ford would even want you to use that thing he'd lock it up, or better yet get rid of it"
"You don't know that" Dipper took the lamp defensively, "And besides, it's asset Mable, it's a tool, it's how we use this thing, not what it is"
"And how are you going to use it then?"
"I...Uh….."
"Besides," Mable added, "It's an evil genie, I mean I don't know any other genies, but Jafar is evil, Sora told us"
Dipper groaned, "Again! Sora, and Sora that ...Sora isn't here, I don't know if he even one, you have such...I don't know...Blind faith in him, for someone you hardly knew, for someone who for all we know could be dead, or worse"
"What's worse than death?" Iago asked.
"Oh believe me there are things…" Jafar sneered, "There are things"
"Well I don't know, but I just have this gut feeling still, that it's gonna be okay," Mable said shrugging, "Call me stupid, I mean, I know you gotta do some of the work, and I know we can't just sit around….
"Then let me use this…" Dipper held up the lamp, "Let me use it, just to find out, what's going on ...And maybe...Just maybe, we can do something about it"
Marble look hesitant for a moment, "Well...If...If that's all ...maybe I uh…."
"It's okay Mable," Dipper's hand slowly began to touch the lamp, all it would need and rub and…
"No!"
Mable then grabbed the lamp and tried to grab it from Dipper. Dipper took hold of it as the two struggled over it.
"Let go Mable!" Dipper yelle.d
"No it's evil!" Mable declared.
The two went back and forth the lamp staying in the middle of the two of them. Iago just watched unsure what exactly to do as the two siblings fought each other. Until at last the lamp slipped through both their fingers and landed in the lake with a loud thunk.
"No!" Dipper groaned, "Well thanks Mable, see what you did!"
"What I did? None of this would have happened if you hadn't taken that stupid lamp in the first place" Mable aruged.
"Yeah well I-"
Dipper wanted to argue more something was stirring in the forest, a figure began to emerge, someone familiar.
"R-Riku?"
He just looked at them both and gave a dark looking smirk.
"Why does it look like Riku but not acting like Riku?" Dipper asked, sounding nervous.
Something was very wrong, very, very, wrong.
-000-
Night had befallen Gravity Falls.
The moon shone high, and like usual Riku was awake and couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he just continued to have dreams of his past. Always the same image of him fighting Sora in Hollow Bastion. Or the time in Neverland where he practically goaded him most of the way. Memories that he wished he could just forget and wish away forever.
Riku went outside by the Shack's porch and just looked out into the woods as he thought to himself for a moment. Taking a moment to feel in the silence and just enjoy the tranquility for a moment. It was nice and peaceful, the first time in a while he actually felt that way.
He still wondered whose guys were who attacked him earlier, yet wanted to also forget. He didn't want anything bad to happen to this place.
Riku chuckled, he cared, he cared what happened to his place.
They definitely had plans in mind, and for some reason they involved him. Dipper had been wondering the same thing and researching and trying to figure out what was going on. He seemed to look more and more sickly with the passing days. Still, he didn't want to get the Pines nervous, he cared for them.
These people, the Pines family. It was definitely a far stretch to where his mind was a while back. Still, he had come to like this world, far more interesting than the Island that was for sure. Yet he supposed what mattered more was just the people he had met.
Mabel in particular was taking a shine too, that fiery energy of hers. Always happy no matter what. Reminded him a lot of Sora, that constant optimism, that constant strive. He had forgotten what that was like but the reminder did want him to better himself.
Still that wasn't where his mind was at the moment.
"I wasn't jealous ...was I?" Riku thought to himself, "I'm not a jealous person"
Then a thought occurred
On Destiny Island Sora and Kairi had been playing on the beaches all day. Riku was six years old at the time, he just stood there glaring at his friend as the little girl was occupying all his time. Time that was meant for him. They were building sand castles, sand castles! This would not stand.
Riku huffed up to them, arms folded as he glared at her, Sora looking confused.
"Hey Riku," Sora waved
Riku scowled, "You haven't been playing with me"
"Oh, well uh" Sora seemed confused, "You can build sandcastles with me and Kairi"
Riku shook his head, "No, we play together...we are best friends, so I wanna play with you"
"But, why can't we play together?"
"Cuz I don't wanna"
In an angry huff he kicked the sandcastle down and marched off.
"Wow…." Riku thought as the memory played through his head, "I was a real jerk and jealous ...Oh boy. Oh gosh ...I-I was jealous…."
Riku took a deep breath, wrapping his face in his hands. He could feel his knees start to give in as the emotions rushed through him.
"Great! Not only that I was a jerk even then...No wonder I shouldn't be in a relationship with him, it was for the wrong reason...Ugh! Why is Sora so nice! Should have left me in the dust years ago! I don't deserve him as a friend, let alone deserving of even being here."
He remembered that day, he didn't like it at first when he saw Sora hang out with Kairi. It always bugged him. Even when they were older and he was able to control his base emotions. Still, he also hated seeing Sora sad or upset.
Riku went back to the beach to see Sora sitting there moping, Kairi looked like he was trying to comfort him. Already he felt the mass of guilt as he saw his best friend being sad. He had inflicted that pain. This was his fault, and he didn't like the feeling not one bit.
Taking a deep breath Riku went back to the two of them Kairi giving him a glairglare while Sora looked down
"Sora um…" Riku bit his lip, "S-Sorry for knocking down your sandcastle"
Sora still looked down, "Why don't you wanna play with us?" he said in a pouty voice that give people heart attacks by how cute it was.
Riku let out a loud groan, "I do, I just ….I just miss it when it was the two of us doing...guy stuff"
"Kairi can do guy stuff too"
"Kairi's a girl"
Kairi got up, " I can do stuff you do...watch"
Without warning she picked up a nearby wooden sword and started wacking it at Riku, hard too, he didn't even have time to defend himself as he found himself being knocked to the ground. The sand went into his mouth and eyes he kept getting wacked in the back.
"Okay...Okay, Uncle, Uncle" Riku called out, causing Kairi to stop, he finally got up and started to laugh "Your good, your good, yeesh!".
Kairi seemed taken aback, "Really?"
"Yeah...Better than Sora"
"Hey," Sora whined looking up at him and getting up "I can be the best one day, be like a knight or something".
Riku shook his head and smiled, Sora's determination was infectious. After that the three kids just ran out fighting each other with swords to see who was the best. Sure he still didn't like Kairi all that much, but seeing his best friend smile made him want to get over pretty quickly.
"Guess I didn't care enough about his smile when I left the Island," Riku sogged., "Ugh I was such a bitter little-
A scratching sound and Riku thought he saw something in the woods, a familiar figure standing before him for a few seconds only to run off.
"Sora?" He said.
The figure ran into the woods Instinct took hold as Riku chased after him, needing to know if what he saw was truly his friend or a figment of his imagination.
"Sora!" Riku called out, but to no avail.
He pressed deeper into the forest, seeing just the shadows of what looked to be his best friend. Surely though it couldn't be him, luck was never on Riku's side, at least not so lucky anyway.
Turning another corner he saw the shadow until finally there he saw it, Sora, or at least what looked like Sora standing there looking out into the distance. Though he was a bit transparent, he was definitely real enough that Riku took notice.
Slowly Riku began to approach him, but with caution, "S-Sora?"
There was a brief moment as the two looked at each other, Riku unsure if he was even real or just a figment of his imagination. Again, he continued to use caution before the figure of Sora smiled at him and gave him a flirtatious wink.
"S-Sora?" Riku said, cheeks turning red.
"No, sorry," Max said as he walked outside, he looked tired, "Can't sleep"
"Yeah"
The two teens just looked at each other as they both looked out into the forest together. Riku could tell something was bothering Max too. Most likely thinking of his father. In that regard, Riku considered him lucky, at least he was able to think positively about his family. Riku never had a close relationship with his own family.
Suddenly Riku remembered what Mabel had said about Max being his fallback guy. He shivered at the thought, not that Max was a bad guy far from it, but it was just too odd. He didn't want a rebound or fallback or whatever.
No, his first and only loyalty was to Sora.
"Um, Max…" Riku said feeling awkward, he didn't want to be rude to him though "I um ...I know...I know you miss your dad, and um...I'm sorry I couldn't give you much, but like I said, if Sora promised to look after him, he will"
Max groaned, "Yeah, I'm sure he will...the problem is can he?"
"Knowing Sora, yes"
"Really?" Max said, seeming unsure, "You really have that much faith in him, I mean know he's your friend so I guess I can't ask you to not have faith in him. But...Come on...he's….He's our age! My age! I could have gone with dad and been by his side too! "
"No you couldn't" Riku muttered.
"Why not" Max looked incensed now.
"Because Sora had a Keyblade, and you didn't, I might not have cared much. I remember Sora telling me that those two were tasked by the King to follow him, until...well…"
"Until what?"
Riku sighed, guilt overtaking him "Until I took his Keyblade and then forced them to follow me for a bit, wasn't long but it was long enough"
"So they really were just there for his Key…" Max muttered.
"No!" Riku insisisted, "In fact it was your dad who defied the King order, and stopped me from almost hurting Sora"
Max paused for a moment to think it over and eventually just shook his head, "Of course he would...That's dad, granted it is strange to think he would defy the Kings order but knowing if it was to protect a friend...Ugh"
Riku didn't know what to say at this point. He could tell Max was angry, confused, frustrated, and perhaps even a bit jealous of Sora. Riku couldn't help but find it ironic that Sora of all people, who had zero malicious intent when it came to most of his actions, would get so many people jealous of him just because he was good at making friends with complete strangers.
"Look I'm sorry but, again! He's a kid, with a magic key, and that's it" Max yelled as he started pacing, "My dad, he has the training and experience, and sure, he's not the most coordinated but he knows what he's doing. Does Sora know, does he know what he's doing"
Riku shrugged, "I don't even know what i'm doing half the time"
"Are you two yaps still up!" Stan came outside now, Riku and Max immediately jumped and turned around to see the old codger looking grim as he had some tea in hand "I heard talking and arguing, person trying to watch his stories here"
"Sorry Mr. Pines" They both said, lowering their heads embarrassed.
"Actually, i wanna talk to yuh" Stan said, pointing to Riku "You two big nose"
"Hey!" Max grumbled.
There was an awkward moment of silence as Stan sat down taking a drink of his tea. Riku could tell that this was something that he had been thinking about for a while now. He could feel the tension starting to rise in the room.
Stan took a deep breath, "Look, I may seem like an idiot, and for the most part...I kinda admit I am. But! I ain't dumb enough to know that you two are here because of what happened to all those Heartless things.
Both Riku and Max exchanged looks, Stan knowing about the Heartless, I mean obviously he knew but he did he knew the severity of it all.
"Look" Stan continued. " I know this probably has something to do with my dorky brother, or something that he got involved in. All I'm asking from you two is that you keep it away from my family okay. Dipper is already going loco ever since we ended up in Traverse Town and Mabel is two blindly optimistic about Sora kid's chances. Now I'm a betting man, and I don't get it, but I just have a bad feeling about it"
Riku just looked at Stan and nodded. "Believe me Mr. Pines I have no intention of harming your family or getting them in trouble"
"HELP! HELP!"
Riku looked up to see Iago flying straight towards them, unable to slow down and hit one of the Mystery Shack's windows. He slid down onto the ground for a few moments before quickly getting up and looking at everyone shocked and scared.
"Stan! Stan! The kids are in trouble. Riku attacked them!"
"So much for me not harming your family" Riku sighed
"Um..Riku's right here" Max said pointing to Riku.
Iago saw him and gasped, "But huh...What ...Maybe it's voodoo magic" He took a deep look at Riku, "Are you a mirage or something"
"No, Riku's been here the whole time," Max assured him.
Riku raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure it was me? Maybe someone disguised as me".
"I uh…" Iago rubbed his forehead, "Come on, follow me!"
Riku wasn't sure quite what to make of an idea of someone who looked exactly like him was in Gravity Falls. Perhaps this had something to do with the Black Coated people who attacked him a while before. His gut told him so, but right now he needed to find Dipper and Mabel. He had just promised Stan nothing would happen to them, he would not let his stay in this world affect others.
"Kids!" Stan yelled as he and the others ran through the forest, Riku and Max following right behind as Iago led the way "Kids where are yuh!"
"Mabel!" Riku cried out, "Dipper!"
Still not much.
Riku felt his guilt increase, he knew that staying here was going to get people in trouble. Mabel had done so much for him and now he had pretty much gotten them in danger because of it. As soon as he saved them he was going to leave, leave this world, maybe find Sora, maybe just settle in some isolated part of the universe and live the rest of his life alone with his own guilt.
They kept going deeper and deeper into the forest until they reached Lake Gravity Falls. There they saw Dipper and Mabel knocked out and standing in front of them was….
Him.
It was him.
Riku.
"No, that can't be"
Iago gasped, "Woah..There really are two of yuh, I didn't know you had a twin"
"I don't" Riku clenched his fist in anger as he stared at his clone who looked right back at him"What! Is this some kind of joke"
The other him snickered as he turned around to look at him head on, "Surprised? I guess you should be after all I look just like you".
"What are you?" He asked, his voice a bit
"I'll tell you what I am," He said, his voice filled with smug vigor, "I'm an exact Replica of you, Vexen made from your data?"
"Vexen?" Riku then remembered the strange man in the cloak
He smirked, "Yeah….
"Do you understand any of this" Stan muttered to Iago who shrugged.
"This is freaky," Max said.
Riku just blinked, his mind trying to process what his eyes were seeing. This was a clone, a perfect replica of him. Even down to where the bangs dangled in front of his eyes. It was spooky, like looking in a mirror, except if the reflection was smug and superior. A look he knew all too well that he used to give himself back in the day before he fell to the darkness and left the Island. Part of him wondered if he gave that same look to his friends whenever he beat them in something.
"So...You're a fake me" Riku asked, looking intrigued.
Immediately his mood changed, the Replica's face turned into an angry scowl, clearly he had hit a mood.
"I'm not a fake!" He yelled glaring at Riku now, "I might be a copy, we share the same body and the same talents….
"So a Replica," Riku muttered, taking a step back.
"What's the difference," Max interjected. He looked more confused than anyone else in the area now.
Riku sneered position his soul eater, "Nothing as far as I'm concerned"
The Replica snarled, "Whatever...There is one way to tell us apart though" He pointed right at Riku who was just confused, "Unlike you I fear nothing...While you, well, your afraid of the dark. The darkness that still lies within you, no matter what you ay"
Riku scoffed
The Replica smirked, "I'm different, unlike you I embrace the darkness, I can make it do anything I want". To show off his new found powers a dark aura came over him and covered him completely forming the dark suit that Riku once wore back at Hollow Bastion.
Riku stepped back ready for a fite
What was worse, The Replica came with his own version of Soul Eater
"So, I get to wipe the floor with you"
Without a warning The Replica struck Riku giving him only a few moments to summon his own Soul Eater and block his attack. The two locked eyes at one another, the Replica's dark and and angry, nothing but rage in his heart.
Did a replica even have a heart?
That would be a question that would have to wait later, for the Replica jumped back, giving Riku just a bit of time to think of his defenses as he stuck back.
Together two boys clashed swords with one another, both showing off their strength and agility.
He truly was Riku in all his abilities and talents.
It was a strange experience to fight his own self. He knew all the moves that were coming and how to attack them, but he also knew all the counter attacks and defenses. What's worse this version of him was far more angrier, and more aggressive. Riku now, something was lost, something that he had was now gone, and he felt like a more hollowed version of his former self. Though he couldn't explain why, and didn't have much time to think about it.
"Well, I don't care if yuh a clone or whatever," Stan interjected, "You hurt my kids...That means you gotta deal with me now"
"Oh really?" The Replica smirked, "Well let's see about that"
Holding out his palm the Replica fired a bolt of dark energy at Stan and was knocked back against a tree, he was a bit dazzled but still okay.
"Mr Pines!" Riku shouted, rushing to check if he was okay.
But it was too late with a single punch the clone hit him the right cheek causing him to stumble. The pain was immense but not as much the anger that Riku felt towards his nearby clone. Yet as he looked at his own face smirking with smug glee, he couldn't help but laugh.
Replica Riku fidgeted back until he was knocked on the ground. The real Riku stood over him, the tip of his sword pointed towards his neck. He fought with so much ferocity, like a wild animal terning to take on the kill.
"I thought you were going to wipe the floor with me" He sneered
The Replica looked up at Riku for a moment, and then, without warning, a flash of darkness came, knocking the real Riku back and onto the ground.
The Replica got up and merely laughed, "It's nice, having darkness on my side. You are so missing out, how can you be afraid of something that is so thrilling".
Riku just got up as he saw his imposter stair down at him, a smug smile widening. He never felt this weak in his life. It was like looking into a twisted mirror, one where he did embrace the darkness, turn against his friend, and had become the thing he now so hated. But he also hated this feeling as well, this inability to do anything, he really did at this moment truly feel weak. Truly and utterly week.
"Hmm...Looks like the coward is trying to play tuff" The Replica chuckled, "So long real thing, hope you don't miss me"
With that he ran off back into the forest.
"Come back!" Riku shouted wanting to go after him, turning to Max, "Get Stan and the others back"
"Stan's waking up" Max said.
"Good, get them home! I have a Replica to catch"