Opening File: Operation 'Friends Forever'

Operation Friends Forever is the name of the plan by Nergal to reach out and take control of every single living being on the planet through the Gem Geo-Superweapon buried in the crust known as the Cluster. Banished from the surface, Nergal has been imprisoned in the center of the world for eons, unable to return to the surface. He has only managed to find a way through the Cluster to bring people, such as the human woman who later became his wife to him but with the Cluster reaching the end of its incubation sate and ready to hatch, his powers have reached a point he can reach out and infect every person on the planet, turning them into creatures dubbed 'Nerglings'.

Close File

Xxx

"There are many qualities in this world and perhaps all worlds that every living being shares. Among them are emotions ranging from love, hate and fear but for a more subjective few that prefer to think they are above such notions the one quality they share with all others would be a goal. An objective to achieve in life that either comes from the manifestation of dreams and desires, idolizing people and ideas at a young age or come a certain circumstance that has caused an individual to desire something of great importance, a change in the surrounding world that they believe would be better for everyone." Sammael opened his eyes. "Such goals and desires are other known by those who are closest and others are hidden for one reason or another. Perhaps the reason for keeping them secret is a simple and yet harmless personal reason or perhaps they remain secret for a more…darker purpose. What remains common is that eventually these secret goals, desires and dreams are eventually discovered where they are either praised or rejected. What is important is when these goals are made real, one must be ready to accept both benefit and consequence of these goals, no matter their intent."

Xxx

"The time is almost now."

Deep in the center of the Earth, standing in the middle of a molten lair, the dark entity of Nergal grinned as he looked down below and saw the dark corrupted light of the monstrous creation known as the Cluster pulsing.

"We are nearing the end game my dear." Nergal said to his wife who happily stood next to him. "The Cluster is reaching the point where it would have hatched by now. Instead, the energy will be channeled directly to me."

He turned around and paced happily around the dark red rocky platform that formed the center of his lair.

"With the energy of the Cluster pulsing through me, I will be strong enough to reach out and touch every person on this planet." Nergal's grin widened, showing his pointed teeth as he glanced at his beloved wife. "Just think, my dear. Everyone connected with each other through me. Unlimited friends for eternity."

"Only you could have made this possible, my dark god." His wife said happily, grasping his hands gently.

"You flatter me, my dear but I cannot claim credit for this alone." Nergal replied, gently touching and stroking his wife's cheek. "It was a joint effort through the work of the Gems who built this creation of theirs deep inside the Earth, Sammael who wanted a way to stop this weapon from destroying the planet…"

"And you, for accepting Sammael's proposal." His wife finished with a devious smile. "Only you can now use it in a way he never considered."

"I wish that were so." Nergal chuckled, grasping his wife's chin. "Unfortunately Sammael no doubt expects betrayal from me. When you live as long as we have, you develop a certain knack for anticipating what people might do when their back is turned. As much as I'd like to think otherwise, infecting Sammael, the Fallen and their Grimm may be even beyond my powers enhanced by the Cluster. Fortunately with the rest of Earth under our control, we'll have the numbers on our side so we can worry about what counter trick Sammael might have when the time comes."

Turning away from his wife, Nergal walked back over to the edge of the platform. "I can sense the battles up on the surface of the world. Sammael's forces are closing in on the Gem of Heart and that is when he'll be the most distracted. That is when I will make my move. And then we'll have expanded our sphere of friends and family beyond-"

RUMBLE!

Nergal frowned as he looked up the 'ceiling' of his lair. "What was that-?"

BOOM!

CRASH!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-! OOF!"

An explosion blasted through the ceiling that was followed by high pitched screaming that ended when something crashed into the ground.

"Did anyone get the number of that tectonic plate that crashed into me?"

Nergal and his wife simply watched as the dust cleared to reveal…

The new Thor.

AKA Johnny Bravo.

Said reincarnation of the fallen thunder god was stumbling around in a daze, having apparently journeyed all the way to the center of the Earth.

Johnny shook his head, regaining his senses and looked around before his gaze fell on Nergal. "Uh…Hi. Have you seen two kids with a bunch of rock ladies?"

Nergal raised an eyebrow. "Rock…ladies?"

"Yeah. One of them is thin, has a pointed nose…like a bird. What do you call them birds with the fancy tails?" Johnny asked, pausing as he tried best to remember each description of the people he was looking for. "One of them has sun glasses…Not cool like mine but still cool and the other one is purple but likes to change into all kinds of different things…Like a talking frog."

"You mean the Crystal Gems?" Nergal clarified.

"Right, them." Johnny nodded with a smile. "What'd I say?"

"As a matter of fact, I have seen them." Nergal grinned as tentacles emerged from his back. "Would like me to show you?"

Nergal lashed out with his tentacles at Johnny who held up Mjolnir. The tentacles wrapped around the enchanted hammer and Nergal laughed as red electricity traveled through his tentacles, electrifying Johnny on contact.

"And now you shall join them!" Nergal threw his head back and laughed. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! We're all friends down here!"

"Hey, knock it off!"

Nergal's eyes went wide when he saw his attempt to corrupt Johnny and turn him into a Nergling had failed. There was not even a remote sign of his power having any kind of effect on the reincarnated Thunder God.

"I said let go!" Johnny had enough as he pulled his hammer back with all his strength.

Nergal was pulled off his feet and screamed as he flew right at Johnny who slugged him in the face, sending him fly to the far side of the platform.

"NERGAL!" The dark being's wife called out as he flew over the platform and fell into the dark red abyss below.

"Seriously." Johnny mumbled as he wiped his arm and hammer. "Those tentacles are slimy."

Nergal's wife turned and glared at the reincarnation of Thor, infuriated that this…buffoon easily defeated her husband….

Or not.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Nergal rose up from the edge with his tentacles grasping the edge and pulling him back up. He landed back on the large platform that served as his domain and his acid green eyes glared at Johnny.

"Okay, so you might be harder to deal with than I thought. Still," Nergal raised his tentacles. "I will not lose to some buffoonish excuse of a god!"

Xxx

Everyone was trembling in fear as Gideon's body became a long black robe, making him look taller while his hands became gloves but actually had no arms attached to them and the same was said for his head…

He had become a ghostly judge with his eyes slitted and yellow, like anyone else who had been possessed by Cipher.

Gideon grinned evilly at Stan as his newly demoniac eyes flashed while showing madness, "Is that fear I sense Stanley Pines~" He asked giggling in a frankly creepy, chilling tone than asked again as his eyes began to glow with demoniac evil power, "Don't tell me you're afraid of lil..ol..me~"

Stan however merely scoffed with a scoff, "Scared?" He gave a wave of his, "So Billy the triangle gave you a makeover big whoop." He let out a little chuckle before sending Gideon his own smirk, "Besides I always knew for years you were nothing but a little annoying demon, so this isn't really a surprise~"

He chuckled again slightly as Gideon frowned before he leveled a scowl toward the twerp that had been a pain in his neck for the last several years, "What is a surprise is that you're dumber than even I ever thought!"

Gideon growled, "Stupid!?

Stan spat at the ground, "Yeah stupid." He crossed his arms, "Because once that crazy demon gets what he wants from you he'll cut you loose."

Gideon form shook before he finally snapped, "YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH STANLEY PINES!" Than taking a step forward snapping, "The only one stupid is you!" He gestured towards all those present, "You and everyone else here that think you can stop Cipher!"

He stared hard into Stan's eyes, "Because let me tell you something Pines I tried!"

Stan actually blinked dumbly at that confession, "Wait…what?!"

And he wasn't alone in his shock either as all those present already shocked at Gideon's allegiance to Bill Cipher and his transformation were once again thrown for a loop, with Zoe and Frida even exchanging bewildered looks.

Gideon paid no heed to the other reactions as he simply rolled his eyes slapped his hand into his hand, "Oh for the sweet love of myself." Then he raised his head snapping, "Yes I did! Why do you think I wanted that wreck of a shack in the first place Stanley!?"

Stan's eyes widen in comprehension as Gideon hissed, "Yesss it wasn't the shack itself but what was under it that's what I wanted."

He clenched his fists, "I wanted the portal!" He sent an evil smirk at them, "Or rather I wanted to destroy it~. He giggled again before he sighed with a click of his tongue and explained further, "I even made a little alliance with one Jack Spicer, one of the so called geniuses.

Than scowling at the ground he hissed out, "But Cipher…Cipher.

Flashback

Gideon was trembling now, trying to crawl away but the zombie fired a beam of light that grabbed him and slowly pulled him towards it.

"Relax, Gideon. I'm not going to send you away like little Jackie. I still got work for you." The zombie cackled. "Between the other red head and former sock head down in the lab fixing up my old buddy's portal and making sure no one finds out I got a lot of work for you."

Flashback Ends

He turned his head away as his newly transformed body shivered at the memory, "Well let's just Cipher had other ideas."

Than scowled once again at Stan, "So yes Stanley I suppose in a way your right I was a fool...a fool for trying to stop Bill Cipher."

Than out of nowhere he entered a wild giggle fit with it sounding so broken and disturbing sending chills down everyone's spines, "All my life…ALL MY LIFE! He howled, "Ciphers shadow hanged over me with my parents worshiping him with the rest of the Blind Eye Society, and all I wanted was the power to break free!"

A large crazed smile grew on his face, "But now I realize that the key to power, the key to freedom, the key to BLOODY SURVIVING!" He held up his fists, "WAS BILL CIPHER HIMSELF ALL ALONG!"

Then he laughed as he smiled at everyone gathered, "So don't you see i'm not the fool here not anymore." He pointed at Stan with while his eyes dark gaze fell on everyone gathered, "You all are!"

Xxx

Klarion stroked Teekl back as he mused with a little smirk, "Now Teekl let's see if brat can actually get the job done." The Lord of Chaos gave a shrug, "But even if he screws up win or lose we'll be getting some entertainment."

A dark smile spread across his face, "At least we'd better for Gilly's sake~"

Teekl mowed and Klarion rolled his eyes, "Gideon you know I meant Gideon."

Xxx

"STAR!" Star Butterfly jumped back in utter surprise after answering her mirror phone fortunately landing in Marco's arms from the loud scream of her name of her calling mother.

At first she was afraid she had done something to make her mom without realizing, but when she took a good look at her mother.

Any fear she had of that was replaced by confusion and worry at her mother's state who was staring at her in apparent absolute relief but was also more of a mess than Star had ever seen her in quite a while with a very tired expression mixed in with the relief along with some bags under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept for several days.

"Oh Star thank goodness your safe!" Star blinked dumbly sharing a confused look with Marco as she stood up, "Um well yeah why wouldn't I be?"

She said with a shrug, "I mean ever since Marco got kidnapped by that freaky lawyer things have been pretty quiet so why wouldn't I be safe?" She said with wide smile but slight undertone of nervousness as she realized she never told her mother about her own kidnapping incident that happen before Marco's with that crazy Crom guy.

But while hoping her mom hadn't found out she couldn't stop herself from giving her mother her own look of concern, "If anything I should be asking if you're okay?" She gave a nervous giggle scratching the back of her head with her heads closed, "I mean no offense mom but you kinda look like a wreak."

Moon simply gave her daughter a deadpan look, "That what happens when you don't sleep for three days straight my dear."

Stars eyes popped open and with Marco, "THREE DAYS!?"

Moon nodded rubbing her head, "Yes Star, three days." She than stared at Marco and Star with a grave look on her face, "At least for Mewni and other dimensions but to all those on Earth according from what little Omnitraxus was able to sense and tell me someone or something froze time for the entire dimension!"

She explained to her daughter and Marco while internally grateful that while some of Omnitraxus' power was blocked from the Earth dimension he could still sense and realize its frozen temporal state, and reported it to her.

By the end of it all, Star and Marco were left staring at each other and wondering the same thing:

What could cause all of time in a dimension to freeze for three days?

Xxx

White Pantera, the normal jovial hero of Miracle City carried a heavy frown on his face as he just received a grave news concerning North America.

He stood in his homes living room as he called out, "Manny!"

"Yeah dad?!" His son Manny Rivera aka El Tigre called with an arched eyebrow walking in, though he gained his own frown at seeing his father's serious gaze.

Pantera gave another sigh before speaking up to his son, "I just got a progress update on a Omega Alert North America."

Manny blinked curiously, "You mean in that Nowhere place that Grimm army is supposedly heading towards? He asked with a tilt of his head crossing his arms, "What's the problem? I mean isn't there still three days left before they get there?"

Then he blinked as he gained a look of realization and an excited smile, "Wait…ARE WE GOING! He yelled out in excited as he clenched his fists together, "White Pantera and El Tigre fighting side by side against an entire army of Grimm! That sounds so awesome!"

White Pantera however held out his hand and spoke up with a grave frown, "No Manny." Manny's smile dropped at his father tone Pantera stared hard into his son's eyes, "I'm afraid not only have the Grimm somehow already arrived in Nowhere…but…"

Pantera stopped and sighed glancing away for a moment as Manny earlier excitement died replaced by a growing pit of fear in his stomach, "But a second Omega threat level alert has been issued."

Manny spoke up with trepidation and worry in his tone at his father's behavior, "A second one? Where?"

Though part of him already had a good idea and he hoped he was wrong.

Then Pantera swung his gaze toward his son as he delivered the news, "Gravity Falls."

Xxx

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

"Steven." A calm voice spoke, echoing throughout the void.

Looking up, Steven gasped to see none other than the spectral form of Wirt hovering over him with his cape fluttering even though there was no wind. "Uncle Wirt?!"

His uncle, Wirt.

His dead uncle had appeared before him again, just like before when he was in danger.

"Steven, you are in danger here." Wirt started stoically but Steven could hear the worried tone in his voice. "You have to break from this."

"What happened?" Steven asked, floating up in front of his uncle. "I thought I was with the Gems, trying to save the Earth from the Cluster."

"You are still in the center of the Earth but you've been captured and your body has been possessed by a demon monster named Nergal." Wirt answered slowly.

"Possessed?!"

"Steven, your mind was barely able to avoid sinking into the hive mind that allowed Nergal to control his victims. Do you remember the mindscape? You traversed it several times, most notably when you spoke with Lapis inside the mind of Malachite and again when Bill Cipher hijacked your body." Wirt recalled.

Steven slowly nodded. "Y-Yeah."

"You are here now, connected with the Gems that form the Cluster, which is right now under the control of Nergal, not the Diamonds." Wirt continued, pushing his cloak aside and pointing down below.

Steven followed the finger and saw countless Gem shards just floating in the dark void. "What happened to them?"

"Nergal has corrupted the Cluster but because its composed of countless Gems who were shattered, their minds are too broken to become of Nergal's hive mind. Nergal is a demon that resides in the center of the Earth, banished from the surface centuries ago. He found the Cluster and corrupted it for his own purposes but even his power was not enough to fully assimilate all the broken minds into his own." Wirt explained. "Do you understand me so far?"

"I-I think so." Steven glanced back at his uncle. "Nergal, he did the same to me and the others. Right?"

"Yes." Wirt nodded. "Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, Peridot and Connie have been possessed but lacking the broken mind state and your own abilities they are trapped in the hive mind that Nergal uses to control anyone who he corrupts. If they are to be free, Steven you have break Nergal's control over them and the Cluster."

"How do I do that?" Steven questioned with widened eyes. "How can I break them free when I am trapped here?"

"You've done with Bill Cipher and this time you are not alone." Wirt gestured back down to the broken gem shards. "Bring them together, Steven. Together, you can break Nergal's hold on them and you."

Steven then watched his uncle's form beginning to disappear. "Wait, don't go Uncle Wirt! I can't do this alone!"

"You have never been alone, Steven." Wirt smiled as his body became transparent and rapidly faded from sight. "Focus on the Gems. They will shine bright enough…to show you the way home."

Once Wirt was gone, Steven was left alone in the dark void. The young hybrid shivered for a moment as he floated down to the floating Gem shards and looked around them.

So broken…

So alone…

Like him.

He reached out and touched one…

And to his surprise the shard flashed.

"Huh?" He could hear whispering from the shards. "Broken minds…You guys…Are looking for the rest of yourselves, right?"

He looked around and brought another shard close to the one he just touched and the two came together. "There you go."

He started moving around, bringing shards together and with each shard combining the voices became clearer.

Become whole…

Become whole!

BECOME WHOLE!

Steven had to close his eyes from the bright lights that were forming and cover his ear from how loud the voices were becoming.

BECOME WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!

Xxx

"DIE!"

Johnny jumped back as Nergal lashed out with his tentacles. The reincarnation of Thor would bat them away with his hammer as Nerglings surrounded him.

"Get away from me, you little freaks." Johnny kicked one away when it got too close. "I ain't a giant fruit for you!"

Just as Nergal was about to attack again, there was a tremor through his hive mind followed by voices all shouting together.

BECOME WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!

"GAH!" Nergal screamed, falling to his knees and clutching his head.

"Nergal!" His wife ran over to him and knelt down next to him. "Are you all right?"

"I-GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Nergal screamed again, the voices becoming so loud his head threatened to split open. "How did they-"

The Nerglings surrounding Johnny all fell to the ground, shrieking and crying.

"Uh…" Johnny held up his hammer. "It's all the hammer's fault."

A pink glow emitted from one of the Nerglings and it let out a loud scream. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The pink light grew even brighter and the darkness the same up its body began to dissolve, burning away as Steven Universe broke free from Nergal's control.

"Impossible!" Nergal cried out, seeing the hybrid had broken free from his hive mind. "A human…No, not a human. He's a hybrid!"

"Whoa! Steven!" Johnny dashed over to his side. "When did you get here, little buddy?"

Steven was panting as he looked up. "J-Johnny?"

"Hey man. Been a while." Johnny waved. "Sorry if you were the little gremlin I kicked. How did you get down here?"

Whatever Steven was about to say was cut off as the entire platform began to shake and a bright glow came from below.

"No…" Nergal stood up with an alarmed look on his face which morphed into a glare as he looked at Steven. "What did you do?! They are resisting me! I had them under control and now they're screaming so loud they are disrupting my control!"

Steven glared back. "I'm freeing everyone!"

The Nerglings were still screaming as the tremors intensified. Steven looked around and saw five Nerglings that looked like…

"Garnet! Amethyst! Pearl!" Steven got up and rushed over to them.

Nergal growled and whipped his tentacles at Steven as he ran…

"Oh no, you don't!"

But luckily Johnny leapt in and slammed his hammer down on the tentacles before they could touch Steven.

"AH!" Nergal screamed in pain again, feeling the hammer crushing his tentacles. "DAMN YOU ALL!"

Johnny stood up as electricity sparked across his body. "You want the kid? You got to go through me!"


INFINITY TRAIN ARC

"Who to choose? Who to choose?"

The options were limited. The Infinity Train was not known for having suitable candidates. They were all kids with little and stupid problems, unable to figure things out for themselves while their families were too stupid to help out.

Oh how much fun it would have had.

If that stupid Crimson King hadn't killed its Avatar form centuries ago and if that Gunslinger hadn't killed the Avatar form it had on the train.

Ironic that that wretched impure was forcing It to take action again.

Sammael and those Fallen impure.

How arrogant they must be to think they would they could taunt It and live to tell about it?

It would have its revenge.

But first It would destroy the abomination sent onto that train.

Wait…

This scent…

Oh, the scent of a child seeking to become a man so soon.

So ripe, especially when their bravery breaks away and they cave into the fear.

He was perfect.

He would be the answer to all It's problems.

Now to send a little…gift.

Xxx

Dipper hadn't been sure what to expect when he woke up on the so-called Infinity Train.

When he opened his eyes he found himself lying on the branch of a giant tree.

A giant tree with talking faces.

Even for him that was a new one.

After a while of talking to the many faces on the tree, trying to make sense of it all Dipper finally found a door leading to the next car.

What stopped him for a moment was the number on his right hand.

216

"Huh?" Dipper tried wiping the number off but it was stuck on his hand like some kind of mark. "Okay, this is new, even for me."

Why was this number on his hand?

What did it mean?

And how would it factor into his plans for finding Mabel and the others?

Shaking his head, Dipper decided to focus on finding Mabel first and then worry about the strange number on his hand. He opened the door and when he stepped outside he gasped.

Judging by the appearance, he was observing what was supposedly the next car of the so-called Infinity Train.

It was huge!

Dipper looked around and saw that the train was traveling down a desolate landscape. The very atmosphere was enough to tell Dipper he was not on the planet Earth anymore, let alone Gravity Falls.

"Oh man. What have I gotten myself into this time?" Dipper muttered to himself.

He was having a hard time remembering how this all happened in the first place but he knew he couldn't stay still. So, Dipper took a deep breath and steeled himself as he walked across the bridge leading to the next car.

"I only hope I find someone soon." Dipper muttered as he opened the door to the next car.

Little did he know, he would soon find someone…

Or rather, something would find him.

Xxx

When Dipper entered the next car, he was greeted with the surprising appearance of a strange island with a sunny sky and even an ocean to go with it.

"No way…" Dipper muttered as he looked around. "How is this possible? How did someone fit an entire ocean here?"

It was maddening.

Dipper was trying to understand it all while remembering the priority was to find Mabel and the rest of his family but trying to understand how these cars, no matter how big they were, could hold an entire island and an ocean.

It was like they were holding entire worlds!

"This is crazy…Even for me." Dipper muttered as he walked along the beach. "Just who made this train?"

"That, my dear fellow is a good question."

"Gah!" Dipper jumped at the sudden voice and spun, looking frantically for the source of the voice. "Who said that?! Where are you?"

"A little jumpy are we?" The voice sounded female with a French accent, coming from some bushes. "Obviously a recent addition. Let me guess, you boarded the train not over twenty minutes ago and you're struggling to rationalize how any of this possible."

"I…" Dipper stuttered and trailed off, unsure whether or not to answer.

"No need to answer, dear boy. It's written all over your face." The voice sounded amused now.

Dipper scowled, trying to put on a brave face. "Just come out already."

"Promise you won't scream or faint if I do?" The voice asked.

Dipper raised an eyebrow, looking confused. "Why would I do that?"

"Let's just say I'm not what you would consider…normal. Rather, my appearance may cause you even more confusion as you try to understand how someone like me is able to speak." The voice chuckled. "Of course, from what I have learned, the ability to speak does not make you intelligent."

"I've seen some pretty weird things during my summer with my great uncle." Dipper stated. "I think I am prepared for anything."

"Oh really?"

"My great uncle is a paranormal investigator who built his own dimensional portal underneath his house that was turned into a Mystery Shack by his brother." Dipper was now boasting with a proud smile on his face. "I can handle anything at this point."

"Very well. I shall take your word for it."

The bushes shuffled and out came…

A cat.

A small white cat to be exact.

Dipper just stared blankly at the car before looking up, expecting someone else to come out.

"There's no one else coming out, boy." The cat said, staring blankly at the young Pine.

Now this Dipper had not been prepared for.

In his short life, Dipper had seen a lot of crazy things during his time in Gravity Falls:

A bunch of Gnomes trying to marry his sister?

Check.

An actual mermaid or rather a merman in Mermando's case?

Check.

A secret cult controlling everyone's memories in Gravity Falls that can turn into demons?

Check.

Wax figures coming to life and trying to kill him and his sister?

Check.

That creep Gideon trying to kill him?

Check.

Ghosts possessing his friends and having to perform his Lamby-Lamby dance(boy was he glad Wendy didn't tell anyone the truth) to save his sister and Wendy's friends?

Check.

A mountain full of Manotaurs?

Check.

Being possessed by an interdimensional demon?

Check.

And that wasn't covering half of what he had been through now that he thought about.

So why was he having so much trouble in believing there was a talking cat in front of him?

"Having second thoughts now?" The cat asked.

"Uh…just give me a second. I was…checking off all the things in my head that would count as weird." Dipper just said. "Never thought I would add 'talking cat' to my list."

"Well, you learn something new every day." The cat shrugged. "At the very least you are adjusting better than most passengers who are dropped off."

"Passengers? Dropped off?" Dipper shook his head. "Okay, Miss Talking Cat-"

"Samantha, s'il vous plait." The cat calmly interrupted.

"…Right, Samantha. I came here looking for my sister. I was told she boarded the train and I followed in after her. Have you seen her? She would like me, kind of because we're twins. Only she would have longer brown hair, braces on her teeth and wears a pink sweater with a shooting star on it." Dipper slowly continued, finding himself talking normally very quickly as he spoke. "Have you seen anyone like that?"

Sadly, the cat named Samantha shook her head. "Sadly, I have not. The train is unfathomably long so it's not surprising I would not have seen a girl like that."

Dipper sighed. "So I need to keep looking, huh? Any idea where I can start?"

"I am afraid it's not that simple, boy. Do you understand where you are?" Samantha lifted a paw to lick at it.

"My Grunkle, Great-Uncle that is, told me this is called the Infinity Train. Some kind of train where people go to work out their problems." Dipper answered, holding his hand with the glowing number. "Do you know anything about this?"

"Well, you have a bit of head start here. Most people don't understand why they are here, even if they are given somewhat of an explanation." Samantha smiled as she lowered her paw. "Yes, the train is meant to help with your problems. Specifically, it's meant to help with self-inflicted problems. The kind that can be attributed to one's own personal flaws. As for the number, it represents the severity of emotional and mental issues you have within yourself, including self-destructive behavior, unhealthy mentality and habits harmful to yourself and others. Your objective is to get the number down to zero so you can be allowed to leave the train."

Dipper looked at the glowing number on his hand. "And how do I that?"

"By recognizing the problems in yourself. Look inside yourself, learn what problems you might have, confront this issues and as you reflect on them, your number will go down until it reaches zero. When that happens, the train will open a door back to where you came from." Samantha answered.

Dipper lowered his hand and sighed, already believing this was going to be difficult. "And my sister or the others with me have to do the same."

"Correct. Once you board the train, you cannot leave until you confront the issues inside yourself." Samantha nodded.

Which means even if he finds Mable, Grunkle Stan or Ford they wouldn't be able to leave until they all their numbers down to zero.

"So where do I go from here?" Dipper asked as he sat down on the ground. "I have no idea what I am doing. How can I figure this out if I have no clue what to do?"

"Figuring that out, my new young friend." Samantha smiled. "Is the first step of the journey."