Mabel stares in shock and mounting horror at the letter she has just received from Mermando. It will likely be the last he's able to write to her. She can't imagine his new wife will want him writing to another girl.

She still can't believe that. Mermando is getting married?! It's not fair! Not just because he's only twelve, but also because his bride-to-be is beautiful. Mabel clearly had no chance with him. Of course, it could never have worked out anyway with Mermando living in the ocean and her on land, but she had still hoped.

Out of all her crushes this summer, Mermando is probably the only one she feels a real connection to. He's the only crush she still keeps in touch with after a short-lived romance. He gave her her first kiss, for crying out loud! How can she not love him?!

In the picture he's sent her, he doesn't look too happy with his fiancée, but how long will that last? Eventually, they're going to settle down together and get used to one another. He'll realise how beautiful she is and, it will be just Mabel's luck, what a great personality she has. He'll fall in love with her at some point and forget all about Mabel.

Just like everyone else.

Mermando is just one of many failed romances this summer. How many more times can she get rejected by guys?! What is she doing wrong? Why won't anyone date her? It figures that the only boy in the whole of Gravity Falls pining after her would be Gideon Gleeful. The creep. He just can't take a hint. But... maybe that's what she deserves. Maybe fate has taken a look at her and thought, "There's a person who should be paired up with a freak like Gideon!"

It makes sense. Gideon is willing to go to extreme lengths to win her over and she has the same messed-up determination to woo, well, pretty much every boy she's come across so far. Is that the problem? Is she being too eager? Does she scare people off just like Gideon scared her off? Is she too full-on, too needy? Why can't she start dating someone and have it go well for once?

Things would be so much easier if she could just get rid of those memories. Start again without the desperation for a perfect summer romance like in all the movies. This desperation has just been growing and growing as of late, and now it's at its peak, Mermando's news of his marriage alliance threatening to send her over the edge.


It's tempting. It's so tempting. No one would know. She needs this. She deserves this one little relief from the pain of all her crushes who will never like her back. No one is around except Wendy. Wendy won't mind; she wants to use the memory-erasing gun on herself, too.

But there's a voice in the back of her head that sounds like Dipper (it's always Dipper's voice she hears when she's about to do something like this). For about a half-second, Mabel stops and listens to the voice.

"Go back to keeping a lookout," Dipper-In-Her-Head says urgently, "There's no time to waste on this. You don't even know what it will do to you, the effects erasing memories will have on your brain!"

As usual, she ignores it. Dipper can be such a killjoy. She needs this. Next time a cute boy comes along, she'll be able to do better, without the memories of failed relationships whispering at the back of her mind. Besides, it won't take long - a few seconds is all she needs. Wendy is still keeping watch for her. And anyway, it can't be that bad! Lazy Susan seemed happier for it. These crazy robed people have clearly taken other people's memories - if the quick, unbothered, clinical way they dealt with the waitress is anything to go by - and they wouldn't keep doing it if it was hurting people. Right? Right. This is for the greater good!


She realises not long after, when she's tied up with her friends and brother, that the prospect of having your memories removed is actually terrifying. Mabel had wanted to take away her own memories earlier, but now that this creep is pointing the memory gun at them and about to make the choice for all four of them, she's not so sure.

But this was what she wanted, wasn't it? To kiss goodbye the memories of this summer, the boys she'd never have a chance with. And here is someone about to do exactly that for her! And yet... yet what? In a few seconds, she won't even remember these people and she'll feel happier again. That should be good! Should be. Mabel doesn't want to forget about this summer. With someone else making the choice for her, she realises suddenly how scary it is and how terrible it would be to lose all that she's gained over the past couple of months. Yes, there has been some things that sucked, memories she would rather throw into the Bottomless Pit, but there's also been so much to be grateful for. All the adventures, all her friends, all the Family Bonding Days with Grunkle Stan and Dipper. She can't lose that!

It's Old Man McGucket that saves them and Mabel has never been happier to see the senile inventor than she is now. The sentiment is shared between Dipper, Wendy and Soos. Crazy as he might be, he clearly cares a lot and it's nice to know he's on their side.


Mabel watches McGucket's memories with mounting horror. A quick glance over at Dipper shows he's feeling the same. She feels sick. She'd been so close to using that evil device on herself! Knowing what she knows now about what it can do to a person, she's glad she didn't.

But still, an uneasiness, almost a palpable fear growing with each second inside of her, won't let her be. She almost went down the same path as the local kook! A few seconds' difference is all it could have taken! It could have been her and Wendy. When they were captured earlier, it could have been her and Wendy, but also Dipper and Soos. How badly could things have turned out with all four of them going crazy at the same time?

Never again! she vows to herself. Never. She'll never complain about her memories ever again.

If she ever comes into contact with that evil device again, she'll smash it into a million tiny pieces that can never be recovered.

She holds to that promise she made herself a month later at the end of August during her and her twin's birthday party.


Next chapter is D for Dream Demons