"Welcome aboard new passenger!..."

Dipper blinked awake at the noise, before jolting into alertness when he realized he didn't recognize the voice. It only took a moment to realize that the voice was coming from the screen hanging in front of him. He glances around, only half paying attention to the talking ball, and felt his heart rate pick up when he realized he was alone in this new place.

"… this is a train where you sort out your problems. How about that number on your hand, huh? Pretty cool and green?"

Dipper focused a little more on the screen as it said that then looking down at the back of his hand. His curiosity spiked a bit when noticed there did seem to be a green glow coming from the other side and flipped his hand over to see the number.

217

Dipper stared at the number as he listened carefully to the video's explanation. He hoped it wouldn't be too hard to get the number down, but that wasn't the most important thing, finding Mabel was. He had to find her, make sure she was safe, and apologize for even thinking about taking Ford's apprenticeship. He had promised not to get stupid and he had gone and done just that. It would be hard to say no to Ford (he was the freakin Author of the Journals and had been on all these cool space adventures), but he would if it was what it took to repair his relationship with Mabel.

When the video ended, Dipper finally got out of the pod he woke up in and looked around the environment he'd found himself in. It seemed like this train car was a forest, similar to the one in Gravity Falls, and Dipper couldn't help but relax a little at seeing it. Sure, the woods could be dangerous, but they were also full of wonder and mystery. Maybe this train would be the same.

Dipper squared his shoulders and began making his way through the cars, solving puzzles and running from dangers whenever necessary. He hadn't seen any of his family, but Dipper refused to give up. He was currently jumping on floating rocks to cross a big canyon. The one he had just landed on was floating higher than he thought it would, so he hurried to run to the next. Unfortunately in his haste to get to the next rock, he underestimated how far he needed to jump. Dipper reached out to try and grab the rock, but his fingers barely brushed it.

A scream tore from his throat as he began to fall, terrified of the hard landing that was waiting for him at the bottom of the cliff. With the wind rushing in his ears, Dipper didn't hear someone shouting his name. He barely had time to register a hand entering his line of sight before it grabbed onto him. Dipper's fall suddenly shifted directions and he slammed into the side of a rock, knocking the wind out of him. Glancing up as he gasped, Dipper felt immense relief to see Stan leaning over the side of the rock, gripping Dipper's hand in his own.

"Don't worry kid, I've got you," Stan grunted as he pulled Dipper up to the rock he was on. The two sat leaning against each other, both breathing heavily as their hearts pounded with the terror of what just happened.

"You know kid," Stan finally said once they had both started to calm down. "You and your sister have a really bad habit of falling from high places. You should work on that."

Dipper let out a choking noise, something that was a strange mix of a laugh and sob, before throwing his arms threw his arms around his Grunkle. Stan blinked for a moment before wrapping his arms around Dipper as well. The two sat there, both just relieved to have found each other and that they were both alright.

"I'm glad I found you, kid," Stan finally admitted as they both got to their feet. "I was getting worried. I don't suppose there's any chance you already found your sister?"

"Not yet," Dipper replied, guilt surging through him as he thought of how it was his fault Mabel was here in the first place. "I hope she's alright… I haven't seen any sign of Great Uncle Ford either…"

"Ford can take care of himself," Stan replied gruffly, waving off any concerns. "The nerd survived thirty years on the other side of the portal. No way he let some train do him in after all that. Come on, let's go find Mabel."

"Right," Dipper nodded, studying the rocks to figure out how to get across. Working together, Stan and Dipper easily got across the canyon. They began working through several cars, including one filled with multicolored bubbles that burst into glitter when touched, a car that was a giant sudoku puzzle, and one that was a tiny forest.

By the time they got out of the corn maze car, it was obvious they weren't going to find Mabel any time soon. Dipper tried to insist they push forward, denying the obvious signs he was getting tired, but Stan wasn't fooled. He made them settle down for the night in a train car that seemed dedicated to camping. There were lots of tents set up and available, just waiting for people to use them. There was even a cooler full of hot dogs and marshmallows and the two soon ate their fill, roosting things over a small campfire.

"So Dipper…" Stan said once they had eaten their fill and were relaxing on the campfire. "Back before we got on the train, you said it was your fault Mabel was missing… what did you mean by that?"

"Well…" Dipper said, looking at the ground and drawing in the dirt with the toe of his shoe. "I guess it all started when I was helping Great Uncle Ford in the alien spaceship…"

And Dipper spilled everything, from the rift and Ford's offer of apprenticeship to the fight with Mabel that caused her to run off. Stan, was quiet the whole time, though it took all his will power not to storm off and punch something. (Ford was supposed to stay away from the kids and he goes and not only drags Dipper into his mess but tried to tear the younger twins apart! He was definitely going to punch the smug nerd next time he saw him, Stan owed him one anyway for what happened when Ford came back through the portal.) But Dipper didn't need to see him angry and that was far more important.

"Kid… this isn't your fault," Stan replied, putting his arm over Dipper's shoulders. "You were excited by aliens and your dreams supposedly coming through and fighting is natural between twins, but you have to remember you are still just a kid. I know you want people to take you seriously, but that's no reason to try and go up so soon. You're not even 13 yet, there's plenty of time to figure out what you want to do when you grow up. Enjoy the time you have now."

"I know… I know…" Dipper mumbled. "But it can be so hard sometimes… especially when you only made fun of me and dismissed everything I was saying at first. I know now that you were just doing it to protect us and to help toughen me up, but…"

"Yeah…" Stan coughed awkwardly. "I probably could have done better about that… I know you kids can handle yourselves, but you shouldn't have to. You should have just been focusing on having a fun summer. You are smart, but that doesn't make you responsible for everything. Take your time to grow up, having fun with your twin. And when you are both growing up and the time for you two to go your separate ways… makes sure you've talked to her about it first. There's nothing wrong with wanting to follow your own path, but your sister deserves far more thought and care than just a sudden decision. Take it from my experience with mine and Ford's mistakes. Keeping decisions bottled up will only hurt in the long run. And no matter what, don't let a fight destroy the bond you two have."

"I won't," Dipper promised. "I'm going to apologize once I find her and go back home with her once the summer's over. You're right, there's plenty of time still to figure out what I want to do, but there's only so much time I have left of being a kid with Mabel. I don't want to miss it."

"And that's why I know you two will be fine," Stan smiled approvingly. "You're already so much better and smarter than we were at your age. I know I don't say this as much as I should, but I'm proud of you."

"Thanks, Grunkle Stan," Dipper hugged Stan again. "I love you…"

"…And… I… uh… I love you too…" Stan replied, a little awkward but full of sincerity. The two hugged for a moment more, before heading into their tents for the night.

Stan - 1347

Dipper - 148