Pacifica Northwest had a plan.

After hurriedly dialing back the intensity of her request, and offering the standard fare of three party tickets, she spent the walk to the manor going over the pitfalls she'd discovered and working out how to counteract them.

"Step 1: Dipper dies if he stays at home, so I need to get him to the manor."

"Ugh, it feels like this collar is strangling me!" Dipper complained, just as he had every time.

"Check."

"Step 2: Let Dipper catch the ghost in the mirror. Any other scenario leads to his death."

"Leaving already? You're at the world's best party, dummy!" Stay and have some fun!"

"I'd love to, but I've got a category 10 ghost to dispose of." Just as before, he walked into a decorative pillar. "Ow! ….Category 10."

"I'll explain everything to him once the ghost is gone." Pacifica promised herself.

"Step 3: While the ghost is giving Dipper his 'tragic backstory' or whatever, sneak away and open the gates."

"Mother, Father. That reporter Todd Ming was looking for you. He wanted to write a piece on great grandfather Nathaniel."

"Works every time... so far."

Within minutes, Pacifica had arrived at the main gates. "This time will work." She thought, "Because I don't know what I'm gonna do if it doesn't-no. Now is not the time for dramatic mental speeches."

Her hand reached out.

She gripped the lever.

*ZAP!*

Pacifica collapsed, agony in every nerve. Above her loomed the one and only Blendin Blandin, flanked by two burly bodyguards.

"Yes! That stun gun is just as cool as they said it would be!" The pudgy man cleared his throat. "I mean, Pacifica Elise Northwest, you are accused of 15 counts of illegal time travel, as well as resisting arrest, and punching me in the gut! You are to be transported to the Infinitentiary for interrogation and memory modification."

"Nope." Forcing through the numbness in her limbs, Pacifica double kicked Blendin in the face, and ran like heck. Quickly, she weaved through the confused partygoers, bursting into her room, throwing open the window and booking it off the property. She'd get to the bottom of the hill, then she'd-

*Thud.*

Rubbing her head, Pacifica found herself face to face with the person she both most wanted to avoid and most desperately wanted to see: Dipper Pines.

"YOU! I trusted you! I actually thought you were better than your parents, when all you are is another link in the-"

"Dipper, now is not the time! We have to-"

"What is wrong with you?" Dipper snapped, eyes filled with anger and betrayal, "You lied to me, used me, when all you had to do was open the-"

"I DID!"

Dipper stopped mid rant. "What?"

"I did open the gates." Pacifica repeated, "I've opened them 15 times."

Hands trembling, she pulled the time tape from behind her back. "You died the first time this happened Dipper, and you've died every time since then! I tried breaking the curse earlier, I tried leaving you at home, I tried stealing every mirror in the house for a dozen booby traps! No matter what I do, it always ends the same way." Her voice broke. "I have watched you die 15 times."

Dipper was at a loss for words.

"You don't believe me?!" Pacifica said incredulously, "Was the freaking time machine in my hand not proof enough? Ugh, forget it! I'll save your life with or without your help you, you-"

"No, I believe you! And I think I know what's going on..."