Dipper escapes to the shadowy corridors of town and into the bright woods. Fans and paparazzi diligently chase Gideon. His show is really the only exciting place in Gravity Falls besides dinky bars, a mall, and the movie theater. Mabel didn't mind the flashing cameras and crowd asking thousands of questions –it's like she was made for a show business. But Dipper? He'd rather spend his time lost in the woods or reading.
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He returns to the ruins of the old town. Golden columns of light pierce thick treetops highlighting an immense stillness. Pacifica sees him, smiles, and waves. Dipper explained what happened yesterday.
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"Gleeful? He really tried to control corrupted magic? Typical. But if we collect the books before he can we'll be able to stop him. I have some good news. Tambry read my fortune and gave me a tip that could help us."
"Great! Let's go!"
"Wait dummy," she pulled his arm and pointed to the glass lantern. "Your sunflower."
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Its signature gold petals haven't appeared. The flower looks cramped inside its glass basin.
"We can plant it over there," Pacifica suggested. An old stone water fountain weathered by time. Half of it is missing. The mighty earth like a sword, cleaved it in half into chunks of unsophisticated stone. "It won't survive in that lantern. And I think it'll be important. Like a symbol of the beginning of our journey."
"That's an awesome idea!"
Pacifica and Dipper planted the sunflower and proudly looked at it.
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Northwest waved her hand and the sunlight moved to the sunflower. It happily stretched, saturated in lively light. Dipper's magic augmented the small flower and sturdy roots affixed to the ground.
Pacifica looked at her hands and laughed. Mud caked them, ruining her nail polish. "That was fun!"
"You never gardened before?"
"No," she shook her head. "My parents wanted me to only focus on magic. And boring stuff I never liked." She started walking. "Anyway, we should get going. Do you know where the mythical creatures are?"
"Yeah. Wendy gave Mabel and I a tour when we first got to Gravity Falls."
"Tambry said we should look there."
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The sky is overlapped by dense leaves. Shadows ominously dapple the woods like wraiths. Pacifica narrowed her eyes. "Something's wrong."
A scary roar confirmed her guess. The ground tremors. A blurry giant figure runs at them.
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Dipper jumps in front of Pacifica. Vines shoot out of his hands and wrap around an axe. Wrenching it free he disarms the enemy. The large creature with horns and a long beard stared baffled.
"Hey you bumbling, brainless, buffoon! Why'd you attack us?!" Pacifica asked.
"Apologies, humans." The Minotaur picked up his axe. "We must guard the forest. Corrupted beings ambushed us."
"The entire forest?"
"Yes. All creatures are preparing for war. We Minotaur have been pushed out of our territory. We must protect the Multibear. He's the oldest spirit in Gravity Falls. If he dies then we'll lose everything. Some of your kind is trying to help but…" horror flickers in the strong Minotaur's eyes. "The corrupted numbers are too great."
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"We have to help them, Pacifica."
She sighed. "I guess we do. But how?"
"How bad is it?"
"They've only captured our home. But how long our forces will last is unknown. It looks like they're waiting for something."
"Have you seen Multibear? If he's your general or whatever, shouldn't you ask him for help?"
"None of us have seen him for years. Many soldiers were lost trying to go to his cave."
"Maybe we should try," Dipper said. "He might know where one of the books is."
"Your kind has always been foolishly brave. If we can't make it past I doubt you could. But we need the help. Multibear is in danger."
"Where's the cave?"
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The two lackadaisically climb a winding path up a mountain. Elegant pine trees cling to the sides like heroic sentry defending a stone fortress. Fog wispily clings to the earth. Dipper and Pacifica apprehensively hover by the unnerving entrance.
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"I don't know if I can do this. Multibear is a spirit. Probably has thousands of teeth and claws…"
"Dipper. All bears have that."
"What if he curses me? Or tries to eat me? Even the Minotaur, who's like, the strongest creature ever, is afraid to go into the cave. I can't-"
"Seriously?! Dipper. Your magic is almost as awesome as mine. You survived an army of gnomes and saved me from a corrupted."
"But it was only one corrupted. I got lucky. That's it. I'm not brave or strong."
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Pacifica glared at him. "Listen nerd. We all have weaknesses. Even me. We must acknowledge them. But you need to rely on your strengths."
"Well yeah. But-"
"Life will get harder. Unbelievably harder. But the challenges it gives us will make us stronger. If you don't overcome this, you won't be there when you're needed most." She pointed at him. "You're not a strongman. Count on the talents you do have. That's what will help you."
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Somehow, Pacifica's scorching pep talk worked.
"Wow. You're right." He looked at his arms lacking muscle. He has deftness and brains. And he's made it this far.
"Everyone has flaws. But you know what's dumb? When a person thinks they have none. People get stronger by facing the uncertain future."
"That and a routine workout."
Pacifica laughed. "That too. C'mon. Let's see what's really happening in Gravity Falls."
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Casting a spell Pacifica holds an orb of light in her hand. They step into the cave and warily eye half-eaten carcasses carelessly abandoned. None are human-looking. Tense, the two fearfully turned many paths in the capacious cave.
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The darkness seemed alive. Immense, intimidating, looming. Threateningly its wispy limbs reached out from the dreadful form at Pacifica's light as if to extinguish it. Maybe the magic is so copious here it can affect the nonliving into thinking, emotional entities.
"Dipper! Corrupted!"
Hissing outlandish monsters stand in the way. Dreadful fangs, decaying flesh, and glowing purple eyes erasing almost any signature of their character or personality.
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"Turn back!" They scream morbidly. "None may visit the woodland spirit."
"Get down!"
Dipper fell to the ground as a whistling ball of light hurled overhead. The corrupted flesh screamed as they melted. None of them can withstand light magic.
"Whoa! Pacifica, you're –that was so cool!"
Those that survived angrily lunged at the mages. Dipper summoned mushrooms that feed on the rotting corrupted beings.
"Huh, who knew such bland fungus could be so deadly."
Dipper smiled. "That's nature."
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Their footsteps echoed on stone. Dipper set up a net of vines and traps of mushrooms to slow down their enemies but more and more numbers joined the pursuit.
"Oh no," he wheezed. How long had they been running? They're trapped. They can't run back to find another path either.
"What do we do?"
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Bill, will dark magic work on the corrupted?
"No. They're not living. Or the undead."
They're not?
"Corrupted beings are between alive and dead. They're cursed. A spell that controls their actions won't affect them."
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McGucket's words crash and ring in Dipper's ears. If a magic solution is impossible think about other options. The scientist usually combines magic and science in his experiments adapting so he can face any problems.
Dipper got the flashlight and pulled the crystal from the glass. "Pacifica. Shoot light through this!"
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She's doubtful a crystal could help save them but Pacifica is desperate. Her last encounter with a corrupted was terrifying. She runs up to the approaching enemies and a blast of light shines through the crystal.
Kaleidoscope colors strike like a laser. The corrupted scream and a revolting pungent metallic smell seeps into the air.
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"They're gone! Your crystal worked!"
"Thank McGucket. His invention saved us." Dipper explained how the crystal's magic qualities improved when attached to a flashlight.
"He sounds cool."
"He is. C'mon. Let's find the Multibear."
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Pacifica has never had a real friend. They've all been shallow parasitic people. Only staying around because of her parents status or because Pacifica had money to spend. Most of her gifts were thrown in the trash when a new trend appeared in their dingy town. But Dipper doesn't care about her famous family or money. He cares about her. And when she's with him she feels powerful and valued. She can be who she wants to be, not what society expects her to be. Not a Northwest. Just Pacifica.
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Sunlight impales the cave's sinister darkness. A stone cliff side is encircled by trees, a small river, and boulders. The Multibear is a giant bear with five heads. Sharp glaring teeth stick out of their jaws. Gleaming furious yellow eyes glare at the trespassers. He can't stand. His injuries are too severe. Chips of copper blemish his fur and deep scars bleed a tacky purple color. Arrows extend out from his back and shoulder.
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"You're not the human warriors of Gravity Falls. No. They wear armor. Are you cubs?" Multibear's noses twitched. "My senses have waned. I can no longer tell what's happening in the woods. I faintly hear bloodshed and my creatures' death cries."
"Wendy and other soldiers are trying to help. But there are a lot of corrupted in the woods."
"And there are scars where the corrupted are coming from."
"That means the curse is forthcoming."
"Curse?"
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The Multibear's mighty heads shook forlornly. "The Banished One will return to Gravity Falls to destroy this town and recreate the world. The days you cherish will perish. A newfound surreal catastrophe will become your reality."
"Can we stop it?"
"If heroes can rise from despair."
"Do you know when the Banished One will return?"
"Soon. The corrupted listen to him. They will siege the town when he does."
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"We are looking for ancient spell books like this one," Pacifica waved her light magic book. "Do you know where one is?"
The Multibear weakly chuckled. He knew years ago that some human cubs would adventure into the woods, looking for answers. The heroes aren't what he imagined they'd be. "Evil forces are quickly working against good. The ancient books of Earth, Fire, Dreams, Darkness, and Water were destroyed after the first war."
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Dipper furiously wrote down notes in a pocketbook. "That's reasonable. But what happens when the good guys need those powers?"
"Magic Guardians, like me, that represent the branches of magic chose a mage to carry half of our powers. Cub," Multibear's eyes narrowed at Pines. "You're a nature mage? I haven't seen one in Gravity Falls in centuries. I am weak and will die if Gravity Falls isn't saved from the Banished One."
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He unsteadily stands up and walked to Dipper. "I can't protect my territory. I will give my powers to you. Promise that you'll help the heroes save Gravity Falls and the creatures of the forest."
"Me?" Dipper is shocked. Doubtful. Unsure. Worried. "I'm…" he looked at Multibear and Pacifica. The vision he had still left many questions. All his life he felt bland and unimportant. Was he meant to be something extraordinary? And now a powerful woodland spirit is asking him to save the world.
Dipper can't leave the Multibear like that. His wounds are terrifying. And the corrupted have to be stopped. He and Pacifica were the only ones to make it here and turning back now is unthinkable. Taking a deep breath, Dipper nodded. "Okay."
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Multibear swiped a claw over Dipper's forehead. A wraithlike mark dashed across before disappearing. The spirit's eyes glowed and the wind shrieked furiously. "As guardian of nature I give Dipper Pines half of my powers until he slays the Banished One." The Multibear stood up and turned into stone. "Heroes are made from their struggles, cub. We entrust you with our present and future."
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"If I wasn't standing here I wouldn't believe it!" Northwest stared at the statue. "A magic bear that guards the woods giving you half of his powers. Things in Gravity Falls must be dire."
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Pines smiled, trying to dismantle the morbid atmosphere. "I couldn't have gotten here without you, Pacifica. Thanks."
She blushed. "You'd be dead without my magic. That's why I'm here. I don't back down from any challenge!"
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Walking back they wondered if Dipper got any new powers. There's no visible or obvious changes.
They freeze. Frantic footsteps are stomping in the foliage ahead.
"Another Minotaur?"
"Is it a corrupted?"
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A tall elf with grey hair, a thin moustache, and a suit emerged. He lowered his bow and gasped. "There you are! Pacifica! I've found you! Mr. Northwest was angry you left home."
"What do you want with Pacifica?"
She looked at Dipper in surprise. "You speak elfish? I took that language for years and still can't speak it perfectly."
"What? I-"
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"Pacifica!" A man nonchalantly materialized. "We've been searching everywhere for you! The muddy locals were no help. If they lived in the forest for so long you'd think they'd be good trackers. The search party in town was even worse!" He glared resentfully at Pines. He didn't seem happy at all about finding his lost daughter. No hugs or tears are exchanged.
.
"Why're you hanging around a poor, dingy, unsophisticated person? He might have rabies."
Pacifica's vociferous, vehement personality instantly vanished. Dipper is shocked. Her gaze drops to her shoes as she fights tears.
"You're better than these disgusting filthy people. Luckily our butler here is a tracker. These woods are dangerous."
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Anger seeps into Mr. Northwest's fake stylish voice. "You missed all your studies. What will the other Northwests say? I knew I should've sent you to a classier school faraway from this rundown countryside town! Return home. We'll discuss what to do then. Certainly a cut on your allowance. And-"
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Fizzing, searing rage. "No!"
Mr. Northwest sputtered. Frowned. "No?"
"I won't let you insult my friend, father! His name is Dipper and he's the bravest, funniest, and smartest person I know! He saved my life. So stop being a one-dimensional, hurtful, selfish jerk!"
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They didn't even care that I was gone. It's because the book was missing. All they care about is the Northwest brand.
Mr. Northwest reluctantly gives up. "Fine. You can be friends." He gave a halfhearted thanks to Dipper by carelessly tossing five-hundred dollars at him. "You did save my daughter, so take that and spend it on whatever tacky things you want. Let's go, Pacifica." Mr. Northwest and the butler left the woods.
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Pacifica stayed and cried. "I never wanted to be an heir or have magic at all. I always saw other kids having fun. Playing games, riding bikes, just being silly. But I was always studying. For what? I don't see the accomplishment of it."
Dipper sadly gazed at her. "Pacifica…"
"Sorry." She wiped her tears and laughed awkwardly. "I look so ugly right now. My mascara and makeup is-"
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Dipper hugged her. Shocked, she feels her heartbeat racing. All the comfort and encouraging words is in the warmth of Pines' hug. She didn't understand it. But she's thankful. Even with her makeup and nose running, he hadn't retreated from her in disgust for crying. He let go –and she wished the hug had lasted longer.
"I should go. I'm totally grounded, like, twofold. I'll see you later."
"Sure, I'll bring some snacks and we can figure out what's going on with the curse."
"Sounds great."
Departing, Pines went back to the Mystery Shack to tell Mabel that he had encountered the woodland spirit: the Multibear.