AN: I know I should work on my old stories, but this idea would not leave me alone.
All Aboard
"I don't want it to work!" Mabel said, barely keeping herself from sobbing as tears gathered in her eyes. "I just wish summer could last forever!"
"But it can't, Mabel," Dipper sighed, kneeling down by his upset sister and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Look, things aren't going to stay frozen this way. It's part of growing up. Things change. Summer ends."
Mabel let out a choked sob and bolted out of the attic. Dipper yelped as he fell over from the sudden lack of support and called out to Mabel. But Mabel didn't listen and didn't stop, fleeing the Mystery Shack and into the woods. She kept running until she couldn't anymore and curled up against a tree to keep sobbing.
"Only party chocolate can help cheer me up now," Mabel sniffed, pulling out a bar. She nibbled on it sadly, less comforted by the sugary treat than she was hoping. "I just wish summer could last forever."
Mabel sniffed and began pulling the collar of the sweater up over her head, seeking the comfort of Sweater Town, when a bright flash of light made her pause. As she started to look around for its source, a huge train suddenly appeared, moving just a few feet in front of her at high speeds. She gasped in surprise, pressing her back against the tree as the wind from the train blew her hair and clothes around. The train came to a stop and letters began appearing on the destination panel, reading "Endless Summer."
Now a normal person would probably freak out by a random train appearing, but Mabel had been spending her summer in Gravity Falls. She and Dipper had had so many adventures involving magic, mysteries, and monsters. A train showing up and apparently offering to grant her wish seemed perfectly normal for this place. A small part of her (one that she refused to admit sounding like Dipper) said she be careful and that it could be dangerous. But Mabel was still upset and scared about what tomorrow could bring, she couldn't pass up this chance. She didn't hesitate to walk to the train and climb aboard.
Mabel blacked out as soon as she stepped on and the doors snapped shut behind her. The train whisked away, leaving no trace except for a forgotten backpack lying amongst the trees.
Dipper sighed sadly as he rode the elevator down to Ford's lab, unable to get Mabel's heartbroken face out of his head. He longed to go after her, to comfort her and let her know it would be alright. She was scared, but Dipper could help her see that there wasn't anything to fear. But he couldn't go yet, not when the risk of the rift breaking and the threat of Bill was still looming so close. The safety of the world had to come before helping his upset twin right? Dipper tried to convince himself he was making the right decision, but his heart just didn't seem to agree.
The elevator doors opening snapped Dipper out of his spiraling thoughts and he stepped into the lab.
"Let me guess," Ford said, glancing over his shoulder at Dipper. "Mabel didn't take it well."
"I don't know," Dipper began, fidgeting nervously with his backpack. "Maybe I'm making the wrong decision. I need to think about this…"
"Dipper, right now we need to focus on the mission," Ford said calmly, knowing there would be plenty of time to work out the details for Dipper to become his apprentice. "Now come on, I've got the glue; hand we the rift and let's make history."
Dipper nodded and reached into his backpack, pulling out the rift. He handed it to Ford who put it in a larger containment unit, making sure it was shut tight. He then stuck his hands into the gloves and with a syringe of the glue held ready, Ford carefully tapped the glass dome of the rift. It only took a few strikes for the glass to shatter and the rift began to expand. At that same moment, Ford inserted the needle and began to inject the glue.
Both Dipper and Ford watched for a few heart-stopping moments as it seemed like nothing was happening until slowly the rift began to shrink. They both let out a sigh of relief as Ford carefully and precisely covered the rift in glue. Dipper watched for what could have been minutes or hours as drop by drop the rift was sealed. With one last bit of glue, the rift vanished from existence without any fanfare, appearing to never have existed at all.
"We did it," Ford said, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smile. "The world is sa-"
"YOU TWO ARE GOING TO COME WITH ME RIGHT NOW!"
Stan's furious shout caused both Dipper and Ford to jump in surprise, the two of them turned to watch Stan storm into the room.
"Stan! You can't just barge in here like that!" Ford shouted, both his body and temper rising to meet Stan. "We were dealing with a delicate procedure and you're lucky we'd just finished! Otherwise, you're carelessness could've ca-"
"I don't care what nerdy project I interrupted," Stan cut in, jabbing his-finger into Ford's chest. "I could have prevented forever being able to cure cancer or solve world peace and I still wouldn't give a s# &. You son of a &$%*(&."
Both Dipper's and Ford's jaws dropped at Stan's cursing. He had always been so careful not to swear in front of the twins that for him to lose his cool like this meant something was terribly wrong.
"What's going on Grunkle Stan?" Dipper asked, fearful of both Stan's anger and what could be making him so mad.
Stan's gaze softened as he looked at Dipper, revealing both worry and fear under all that anger as he said, "Mabel's missing. It's getting really dark out and I can't find her. You two are going to help me find her."
Dipper's face became white with fear and he immediately scrambled towards the elevator, Stan following right behind him. Ford stood frozen for a moment before a venomous glare sent him stumbling forward. The elevator ride up was painfully silent as the occupants' waited in various tense emotions. Mercifully they arrived and as soon as they were entering the gift shop, Stan was shoving flashlights into everyone's hands.
"I've already called Wendy and Soos," Stan informed as he turned on his flashlight. "They're going to check around town and get more help. We're going to start looking around the woods for her."
Dipper and Ford didn't argue and soon the three of them were searching the trees, calling for Mabel.
"Grunkle Stan! Grunkle Ford!" Dipper's panicked voice came echoing through the trees a while after they began searching. "I found something!"
The older twins hurried to where Dipper was and found him clutching Mabel's backpack but trace of the girl herself.
"I-It's hers... B-but I can't figure out where she went…" Dipper said, tears beginning to stream down his face. "W-what if something took her-r? W-what if she's hurt? This is all my fault!"
Ford began to move to comfort his upset nephew, but Stan beat him to it. Stan scoped up Dipper in a hug and gently patted the boy's back as Dipper cried into Stan's shoulder, leaving Ford to stand by awkwardly.
"Hey, it's okay… We'll find her…" Stan said softly and with so much confidence that Dipper's panic began to ebb. "If the summer has shown us anything it's that you two are fighters. Wherever she is, she'll be fine and we won't give up until we get her back. No matter what."
Dipper nodded, wiping away his tears and being filled with renewed determination. Just as the two were about to stand up to continue the search, a bright flash filled the area, followed by a train suddenly rushing by. The three of them jumped back in surprise as the train came to a stop and the destination panel flashing "Mabel Pines".
"What the?" Stan couldn't help but mutter, eyeing the train suspiciously.
"Grunkle Ford? Do you know what this is?" Dipper asked, glancing to see if Ford had any idea what was happening.
"Not around Gravity Falls," Ford replied, looking over the train in disbelief. "During my travels, I heard of a train that would appear to people in distress. Some never returned but those that did said that the train was benevolent…"
"Then let's go…" Stan concluded, stepping towards the train only for Ford to grab on his arm.
"We need to think this through first!" Ford insisted. "We're not even sure if Mabel's on it. It could be dangerous and…"
"Don't care, Poindexter," Stan cut in, ripping his arm from Ford's grip. "If this thing can take me to Mabel then I'm going. You can stay here for all I care, but I'm not going to leave family behind. You coming Dipper?"
The boy looked torn, glancing nervously between his two great uncles. He looked at the backpack in his hand and over at the train, his stance and gaze becoming determined.
"I'm coming with you Grunkle Stan," Dipper replied, getting an approving nod from Stan. The two stepped towards the train, Ford following a moment later though a lot more reluctantly. The three of them boarded the train and blacked, the woods becoming quiet as the train once more vanished.
