The sunflower began to sprout. Dipper fixatedly tried to keep it alive. Stanley restocks merchandise and Mabel started a new sewing project. Surprisingly the Mystery Shack isn't brimming with tourists yet. Fiddleford was again out on some scientific task.
Dipper's heartbroken to hear that he didn't have any inventions to test out.
.
Two people enter the shop. Stanley grinned. "Soos! Wendy! Meet my great niece and nephew."
"'Sup Mr. Pines!" A cheerful heavy set man chirped.
"Hello Stan." A mellow voice greeted.
"High-five little dudes!" Soos exclaimed.
The tall woman smiled but otherwise seemed nonchalant.
.
"This is Mable and Dipper." Stanley stated proudly, patting their backs. "They'll be living here and studying magic."
"That's awesome!"
"Cool! I used to be Mr. Pines' apprentice. My magic can fix and disguise anything."
"Yep. Soos is the Mystery Shack's handyman."
He twirled a wrench and nodded. "Well, better get to work. Mr. Pines hates slackers. See ya later dudes!" Waving, the repairman waddled away.
.
"Grunkle Stan, can we explore? There must be hidden rooms full of old stuff around!"
"Uh…" brown eyes darted back and forth nervously. 'I'd completely forgot about-'
Cars parked outside. A crowd of tourists marched towards the building.
.
"Maybe another time Mabel. Wendy! Mind showing the kids around town? They'll love hearing about Gravity Falls' lore and famous legends."
"Sure, I can go on an extra patrol."
Equipping an eyepatch, an eight ball cane, and hat, he smiled. "Show time!"
.
Wendy is an excellent tour guide. "Rule number one: don't use magic in ordinary towns unless necessary. Two: a friendly contest or pranks are perfectly fine!" Wendy winked and earned a laugh from the twins. Dipper could hardly focus. His heartbeat simulated a person jumpstarted by caffeine. 'She's so beautiful!'
.
"What happens if we break the rules?"
Wendy's smile faded. "Can't tell you. There are various punishments depending on which rules and how many are broken." She noticed Dipper trailing behind. "What's up? You listening?"
.
"H-Huh? Oh, sorry." He bashfully kicked dust with a pair of old sneakers. Wendy's long red hair framed her pretty freckled face. Emerald eyes shimmer stronger than a glade in summer. Silver armor plates adorn her tall figure. The battle axe looks stunning –and sharp.
.
"You…look really cool! Like a warrior in an RPG."
"Aw," laughing she ruffled Dipper's hair. "You're so sweet!"
Mabel giggled, gaining a sharp glare from her brother as he adjusted his hat.
.
"What's your job Wendy?"
"Can you turn into a werewolf?" The boy asked, pointing to a crimson wolf painted on her armor.
"No. This is my family's symbol. We're knights that protect Gravity Falls. Patrolling, battling evil, and wielding awesome weapons! My dad's the town smith."
.
The warrior located four giant watch towers. "These buildings are on the very outskirts of town." A faint multicolored orb encased Gravity Falls. "It's a magic barrier. Evil magic wielders and corrupt beings can't break it."
.
"Wait," Dipper blinked. "Grunkle Stan told us about light and dark magic. Too much of either and it'll degrade the host. Is that what you're describing?"
Wendy nodded.
.
"Very perceptive aren't you? Yes. If corrupted, you no longer follow your own thoughts or ambitions. The magic controls everything, and it's easier for demons and creatures to possess a person. Just an empty shell."
A cold eeriness latches onto Dipper's bones. He wondered what corrupted beings are like. Mabel is baffled on why Wendy is reluctant to talk about it.
Curiosity sparks.
.
"Let's continue the tour, alright?" They march into green wilderness. "It's like a maze…"
"You see these symbols painted on certain trees?" Clusters of branches and leaves weave elegant arcs above. Thin pathways are hidden by patches of shadow. "A symbol means it's a portal to a creature's domain."
One insignia displays a muscular beast, half human and half bull.
.
"This is home of the Minotaur. These guys are rowdy. Party animals. Not every creature is friendly, understand?"
The twins jump from Wendy's sudden strict tone. They nodded furiously and her face softened.
.
"How can we tell which ones are friendly?"
"There are lines beneath the symbols. Green is peaceful, yellow is mischievous, and red is dangerous. Minotaurs are very territorial. Until you guys are better at magic, avoid the red ones okay?"
.
"Awesome!" Mabel cheered. "Are there vampires and mermaids?"
"Yep."
"Fairies and unicorns?"
"Uh-huh."
"I can't wait to explore more of Gravity Falls!"
Dipper rubbed his arm, shy and quiet.
.
His magic tattoo is painfully cold. Mabel and Wendy are just three steps away. Yet, Dipper feels a far, far distance from them. Alone, in a desolate and barren nowhere. Icy needles stab his flesh. Not even his jacket could deflect the freezing drafts. Summer temperatures remain normal.
.
The town is alive with chaotic clamor. Far from silent. Vendors set up stands and shout about glamorous and helpful wares. Fabric of every color and pattern flutter on subtle gusts. Floating lanterns cast chips of rainbow light upon earth.
.
Music, book, and coffee shops are present –so is a theater and library. A bizarre mixture of medieval castles, gorgeous woodlands, and urban markets. The twins are beyond impressed!
"C'mon, I want you to meet my friends." Wendy strolled away to a group of people.
.
"This park looks rundown and uh, dangerous." Dipper mumbled.
Wendy introduced everybody. "That's Tambry." A girl with purple hair, heavy mascara, and dark gothic clothes sat on a bench staring into a crystal ball. A circlet crown studded with a purple stone rests on her head. "She's a seer who makes charms. Tambry's not very talkative."
.
"Over there is Robbie. The guy with the guitar." He wears a black hoodie, has a long nose, and raven hair. Nothing compared to his decaying flesh. Deep teeth marks scar his neck and rib bones poke out from torn clothes.
.
Mabel blushed. "He's kind of pretty."
Robbie glared at the new arrivals but said nothing.
"Ew, really? He seems so…strange?" Dipper whispered.
"He has a bristly personality but Robbie's alright."
"Is he a zombie?"
"No but close. Half siren, half zombie."
.
"Those two are Nate, Lee, and Thompson." The guys danced around a boom box, waving glow sticks like some jumbled summoning. "Nate's a werewolf and Lee a werelion. Thompson is a genie apprentice."
.
"Hey Wendy, who are these losers?" Nate asked.
"Are you babysitting?"
"No way! Dipper and Mabel are cool."
"I've never seen them before." Thompson said.
"They're Mr. Pines' apprentices."
"Whatever," Robbie scoffed. "As long as they don't get in my way."
.
Dark, eerie eyes study Dipper. "What are you carrying?"
"My assignment. I'm learning to control my floral magic and-"
Robbie laughed. "Seriously? How lame!"
'Don't let him talk to you like that!' Dipper frowned. He hardly noticed that the voice was not his.
"What can you even cast? A tree? Ooooh so scary!"
"Hey, scientists use herbs and flowers as remedies to invent medicine all the time! So, so-"
"Yeah? And it's easier to just go buy some at the store. Flower magic is worthless against other forms."
.
He smiled smugly. "So does that make you a flower boy?"
"Shut it Robbie!" Wendy hissed.
"What? Flower Boy going to poison me with a magic spell? I'm immune to most toxins."
"I think his power is cool. The strongest beings grow in the wild. Like wolves and bears."
Dipper perked up and Robbie's jaw dropped aghast. "Take it easy Wendy. I was just playing around with him. You know, like we do with all of us!"
"Right…"
Dipper rolled his eyes.
.
"Yo Wendy, don't you remember that it's your turn to buy lunch?" Lee asked. "Or did you forget?"
"Oh shoot, I totally did! I'll be right back. Don't do anything fun without me!" She winked before running off.
.
"Hey kid," Robbie turned from his spray-painting on junk and faced Dipper. "Do you like Wendy?"
The other teens stared at him.
"M-Me? N-No w-way."
Robbie snickered. "You totally do. She'd never like a wimp like you. I bet you couldn't even do anything awesome to impress her."
Tambry glared at Robbie. "Lay off. You're always starting crap aren't you?"
"Hey man, it is funny!" Lee said. "I mean, who'd like a little kid like him?"
Dipper frowned. "I'm not a little kid…"
"Sure you are! I bet you've never even pranked anybody before!" Robbie smiled.
.
He pushed Dipper. Kid or not, he doesn't want Wendy to favor anyone else but him. "Such a loser, huh? You probably don't do anything fun! Just sit in your room all day and pfft, what? Read books? Probably the romance novels your sister likes to read too."
Nate grabbed Robbie's shoulder. "Enough bro. You're just being an asshole. As long as…as," the teen tried to think of a stylish nickname for this recruit. "Dr. Fun Times, yeah! If Dr. Fun Times is chill and up for some cool stuff like us, he's fine."
.
Robbie smacked Nate's hand from his shoulder. "I bet you can't prank the gnomes! Those guys are easy to mess with."
"Sounds fun!" Mabel jumped excitedly.
"Mabel, I don't know about this! It could be dangerous!" Dipper whispered.
She glared at him, and frightened by her sudden tone, backed away a few steps. "Stop being so negative! You're such a buzzkill, you know? We have a chance to be cool for once, and you want to just be so…so infuriating!" She smiled at Robbie. "We'll do it!"
.
"Very selfish…always thinking about boys huh? How pathetic. Whenever you need help, she vanishes."
'I'm always there when Mabel needs me. Why is-'
It's the first time Dipper's felt the painful sting of betrayal. Fuming, he shouts, "Fine! I'll show you all how brave I can be!"
"Great," Robbie tossed him some golf cart keys. "Let's go then, Flower Boy."
.
Pointy red caps poke out among colorful mushrooms. A lively glade is swept up into tiny hills and tall trees. Pretty scenery if one wasn't distracted by their thoughts. Dipper didn't have many friends back home, so he intended to discard doubt and look cool. What Robbie had said struck a nerve. His own sister couldn't even be there for him, and some of the other teens prodded Dipper's shyness.
'I am a little timid but I can be cool too. Right?'
.
"Okay, so who's going to grab their treasure?" Robbie asked. "They have an Orthrus fang in there."
"Why?" Mabel asked. "Sounds gross."
"Gnomes are weirdos. They try to kidnap maidens because some colonies don't have queens." Robbie shrugged.
.
'That'll be an awesome present for Wendy!' Dipper hopped out of the gold cart and searched. The area was quiet. It seemed so empty. Shouldn't there be gnomes working and sprinting throughout the little village? This screamed danger –absolutely.
.
He ignored the red flags. Robbie kicked his feet up waiting to watch Dipper horribly fail. Mabel ran around, turned over rocks, and kicked up clouds of dust. Her brother took a more cautious approach. In the center of the village was a large mushroom cap.
.
Glittering trinkets are strung up like ornaments. They're keys! Dipper grabbed them and found a tall tree stump that towered over all others. He looked at the keys, then to the door. Shrugging, he kicked it down. Crawling inside his face smacked into tiny furniture.
.
Shards of broken tea sets and vases cut his skin. He clumsily stood up, body crushed in such a cramped house. Just above, he found a cute treasure box. 'Mayor's Treasures' it read. Opening it like a stubborn jar lid, Dipper found-
.
Ah, pearls! Not an Orthrus fang but still cool! Pocketing those he left the mayor's house. He doubted the other villagers had such a powerful item in their possession.
.
Mabel had trashed the glade. Everything is either brittle from thunderbolts or damaged.
"Hey Flower Boy, did you find it?"
"No…" Dipper glanced at the strange, pointy, upside-down carrot things. They stuck out from the ground in clusters.
.
He plucked one from the earth. Startled, Dipper dropped the screaming gnome.
"Trespassers! Trespassers! Attack the intruders!" Gnomes sprouted from the grass growling like angry bees.
.
An army assembled. Gnomes formed into a giant gnome!
"I d-didn't know they could do that!" Robbie shouted.
"Can't you use your music to calm them down?!" Mabel asked, terrified.
"It doesn't work on those guys! They don't understand music."
.
A fist crashed upon earth. Mabel and Robbie flew from a gust of wind. Dipper threw a stone at the giant. It bounced harmlessly off. "Hey! Leave them alone you disgusting beasts!"
.
Scowling, it turned to Dipper. Scared, he staggered. "Uh, Mabel? A little help?!" The gnomes shot missiles –made of their own army! His sister summoned a barrier of water. She briefly glanced at her brother regretfully before running off with Robbie.
"Abandoned you again, hm? Well, you're on your own now. Survive!"
Dipper jumped from every heavy footfall. Running he feels nothing but peril. The forest is a blur. A roar sent him stumbling. He's alone.
.
Heart pounding furiously, lungs ablaze, Dipper tripped down a hill. His hands and knees take most of the impact. Quivering, he sees a giant shadow looming over him. The gnomes raise a clawed hand. In a breath-
A sturdy pine tree materializes. It spears the giant and absorbed the attack. Gnomes rain down. The tree fractures, snapping in two. Scared, Dipper crawled away, expecting to be crushed.
Instead it decayed. Soft and harmless. Scars sting agonizingly. His legs are so weak they buckle when trying to stand. At least the gnomes fled.
.
Fiddleford was studying new crystals when he heard a deafening crash. Leaving his car behind the scientist sprinted towards the noise. The man's jaw dropped. Bewildered, he can only stare a moment. A garden of thorns surrounds Dipper.
.
"Are you alright?! What happened?!" Carefully, Fiddleford traversed through the razor thorns.
No answer. Bruises and gnarled scars cover Dipper's body. Thorns became a cage, stabbing any who got too close. The scientist hovered by –uncertain and processing.
.
"This…is what I get for trying to fit in, right?" A cry, a muffled whimper.
Fiddleford's brows furrowed. Now he understood. Pity washed over him. Avoiding sharp thorns he lifted Dipper into his arms.
.
Thankfully the boy was still alive! Fiddleford carried Dipper to the car. "What happened?"
Silence. Green eyes evade the other's concerned gaze.
"It's alright…let's get you home."
.
Foliage rustled and Wendy, Nate, and Tambry appeared. "There you are! Good thing I have awesome tracking skills."
"What happened Wendy? Where's Mabel?"
She flinched. His soft tone exploded into roaring clamor.
.
"That Robbie! He dared Dipper to prank the gnomes!" Nate stated.
"I was getting snacks and was gone for only a moment."
"I'm sorry sir, we should've watched over them-" Tambry stuttered.
"If it wasn't for Robbie's dumb ideas he would've-"
"ENOUGH!"
.
The clearing became silent. After a long, awkward pause the man spoke up again. "Wendy, go fetch Mabel. Bring her home. I'll get Dipper back."
"Y-Yes sir."
Fiddleford slammed the car door shut and started the ignition.
.
The car ride atmosphere was awful –thick as metal. Fiddleford couldn't contain his rage. "I can't believe some of them! Throwing you under the bus like that! Absolutely pathetic! Unbelievable!"
Dipper refused to let tears spill.
The scientist sighed. "At least Wendy, Tambry, and Nate have their senses about them."
.
"I'm just a joke to everybody. Aren't I?"
"No of course not. Listen," Fiddleford offered a reassuring smile from the rear-view mirror. "How about you and me go field testing? I've got some pretty cool inventions I'll let you try out!"
Not even a smile.
Fiddleford frowned sadly. Sighing he said, "Life is ugly. There are some things we can't change. But, I believe in you Dipper, even if others don't."
.
No answer. Dipper let the silence calm his shaking nerves. In his hand he held a trinket. The Orthrus fang was smooth to the touch, and tinged a faint crimson. It had landed by his feet when the giant gnome exploded. He believed it to be his only awesome feat so far, and it diminished away some of his enduring melancholy.