Dipper was sitting in the library, looking at his book. He was reading the words, but couldn't process the story. He kept on glancing at the entrance, expecting him to come back. Yesterday was probably the most confusing day in his life. He needed to figure it out. Who had sent that large man after him? Did Grunkle Ford really not believe him? How did the large man escape? Would he come back for revenge? Was Marius not as bad as Pacifica?

At that moment, Mabel appeared at his side. "Mabel!" he whisper-shouted. "Don't do that!"

"Sorry, I promise I won't kill you."

Dipper rolled his eyes. "Did you do it?"

Mabel feigned ignorance. "Did I do what?"

"Did you tell Pacifica what happened?"

"Mhm. She didn't seem to believe it, though." Dipper nodded. That was exactly what he had hoped for. Pacifica wouldn't admit that she was intrigued, but she would probably mention it to Marius. Then Marius would realise that Dipper was trying to reach him. Pacifica wouldn't tell anyone else because the source of information was Mabel Pines.

"Come on Mabel. Let's go."

The twins walked out of the school and down the street. It was silent for a while, then Mabel decided to speak. "Hey Dipper?"

"Yeah?"

"Why didn't you tell Grunkle Stan and Ford about the assassin?"

Dipper sighed. "Didn't I tell you that Grunkle Ford didn't believe me?"

"Still, you could've... you know. Been more... what's the word I'm looking for? I'm looking for a word-"

"-assertive?"

"Exactly! Why weren't you more assertive?"

Dipper looked away from his sister and down the path. He wouldn't tell Mabel, because then she'd want to join him. In truth, Dipper wanted to keep this under wraps. The more people that know about this, the less likely the large man would attack him again. He needed as little people as possible to know so that the man would let himself be caught. Mabel was sworn to secrecy. Pacifica wouldn't care. Marius was the only other person who knew, and Dipper needed his help to find the man.

Dipper was brought out of his thoughts by the large queue outside the Murder Hut. People were standing outside the door, leaning to get a peak inside. "What the...?" Dipper and Mabel entered through the gift shop, to find it packed full of people. Dipper looked around. A bald man in a white shirt was giggling at the bobbleheads of Grunkle Stan. Wendy was sitting by the counter, selling off some cheap merchandise that Grunkle Stan made himself. He really needed a manufacturer.

"Yo Dipper, Mabel!" Wendy called once the customer left. "It's crazy, isn't it? This many people actually showing up to this place?"

"Yeah," Dipper replied. "It's almost unbelievable."

"Good for Grunkle Stan, though!" As Mabel said that, Grunkle Stan himself walked through the door. "Speak of the devil," Dipper muttered.

"Kids!" Grunkle Stan wrapped an arm around Dipper and Mabel. "Look at these people, dying to get there hands on some of the finest merchandise there is!" He grinned proudly at his gift shop.

"Grunkle Stan, they're not actually special. You made them yourself," Dipper stated. A woman standing near Dipper overheard what he said, and looked at the 'gold nuggets' in confusion. Grunkle Stan quickly got up and made his way to the woman.

"He's right, you know?" Stan said. "These gold nuggets? They're just rocks."

The woman looked perplexed. "B-but... they're gold..."

Stan laughed. "Exactly! So they are real, aren't they?"

"Yes...?" The woman nodded.

"And they really are the cheapest gold nuggets you'll find in Gravity Falls?" Grunkle Stan had raised his voice slightly, and people around the gift shop were looking at him.

"Yes..." the woman seemed to be buying into the gold nuggets.

"So you're going to pay $100 for this real gold nugget?"

"Of course!" The woman snatched a rock covered in gold spray from Grunkle Stan's hand and put it on the counter, along with $100. "I want this gold!" Wendy shrugged, took the cash and handed back the gold nugget. The woman shrieked in delight and left the store, whispering "I'm rich, I'm rich, I'm rich!". Once the woman left, all the customers ran to the stand with gold nuggets and started looking for the biggest rock. Dipper couldn't believe it.

"Sheesh, Dipper," Grunkle Stan said, coming back. "You almost blew my cover. It's called business."

"But it's lying, Grunkle Stan!" Mabel exclaimed, but quietly enough that none of the customers heard.

"It's for the greater good, sweetie. When you get to my age, you'll understand."

Dipper shook his head. "You should at least try and get a real manufacturer. It could help."

Grunkle Stan grunted slightly. "Maybe I'll think about it." Grunkle Stan wandered off, looking for more customers to trick into buying terrible merchandise. Dipper sighed and sat down on the chair next to Wendy. His Grunkle sure was stubborn. Dipper took out his homework from his bag and started going through the questions. Professor Trembley liked to give multiple-choice homework because it was easier to mark. It also made Dipper's life a whole lot easier.

"Hey, Dipper," Wendy said, nudging Dipper slightly. "You should totally come with me and my friends to the woods this weekend! You're not going to be doing any nerdy stuff with Ford, are you?"

"Don't think so. Yeah, I guess I could come."

"Awesome. I'll let the guys know you're coming. Mabel, you wanna join?"

"No thanks, I've got some plans with Candy and Grenda." Wendy shrugged and started flicking through a magazine. Dipper finished his homework and pulled out his journal. He flipped forward to the most recent page, where he had written a few notes. He started rereading what he had written.

Blank eyes. Large and muscular. Red Beard. Scar on forehead.

That's all Dipper could remember about how the large man looked. The next line explained his plan:

Get Marius to help. Dipper acts as bait. Catch large man. Don't get others involved.

So far, everything was going as planned. Now all Dipper had to do was wait for Marius to talk to him. After all, he knew that it would be weird for him to walk up to Marius, considering the school hierarchy. Dipper added that into his journal. DO NOT APPROACH FIRST. Mabel appeared by his side. "What'cha writing there, some nerd thing?"

Dipper slapped his book shut. "Uh, uh, it's nothing!"

"Uh, uh, it's nothing!" Mabel mocked. Wendy smirked. "Are you really not gonna tell me?"

Dipper hesitated. Dipper and Mabel never kept any secrets, and he did tell her about the man. But he couldn't involve her in this as well. He couldn't put her in any danger. "It isn't really important. I'll tell you later."

Apparently satisfied, Mabel began her newfound hobby of watching cute boys that wandered into the Murder Hut. So far, she hasn't talked to anyone. Dipper smiled at the memory of Mabel's very first crush: Alexander Hamilton, the man on the ten-dollar bill. Apparently, he's got a musical now.

Dipper put away his journal as Grunkle Stan drew nearer. While Grunkle Stan has always motivated Dipper to be stronger, Dipper knew that his grunkle wouldn't let him get involved in this. "Kid, I've got some time tomorrow morning. It's a Saturday, so I thought we'd do some more work on your punches."

Wendy raised her eyebrow at Dipper. Right, he probably should tell her. "Sure, Grunkle Stan. Tomorrow works." Dipper mouthed a silent "Later" to Wendy.

"Good," said Grunkle Stan. Then he flipped over his eyepatch so that it was covering his eye. "But during business hours, it's Mr. Mystery to you! I'll see you around."

"Harder."

Thwack.

"Harder!"

Another thwack.

"One more time, Dipper!"

Dipper punched the pad that Grunkle Stan held out in front of him. This time, Grunkle Stan stepped back. "Good. Still a little weak, but getting a lot faster."

Dipper bent down and gasped for air. He brushed off some sweat. "Thanks, Grunkle Stan."

Grunkle Stan nodded at Dipper, then at his brother, who was watching from the side. Grunkle Ford walked towards them. "You're getting pretty good, Dipper. I'm proud of the progress you've made. But now let's test it against yourself." Grunkle Ford took out a small spherical object from his pocket and rolled it across the ground. It stopped, and Dipper emerged from the sphere.

Dipper blinked, looking at himself.

"Interesting device, isn't it? McGucket and I have been working on it for quite some time. You won't actually be able to touch the hologram, we're still working on that, but it has artificial intelligence that will act depending on your moves. In essence, you're fighting yourself."

"Incredible!" Dipper breathed, walking towards the hologram. "It's so lifelike!"

"Now get ready, Dipper. Stanley will act as referee. First Dipper to touch the other wins. Ready?"

"Wait!" Grunkle Stan held his hand up in the air. "How do I tell which Dipper is which?"

Grunkle Ford shrugged. "You don't. Poke the winner. If you can touch him, then the real Dipper won. Ready, Dipper? Begin!"

Dipper watched as the other Dipper came to life. It moved one leg back and closed its hands into fists. Dipper did the same. For a moment, they both stood still, waiting for the other to move. Then the other Dipper stepped forward and aimed a kick. Dipper stepped back, then propelled himself forward, throwing a punch at the other Dipper's head.

The other Dipper ducked, then immediately came up with an uppercut. Dipper didn't feel it, but the punch landed on his chin. "Stop!" Grunkle Stan said. The other Dipper fizzled out of existence. "Close, Dipper. You might have had it, but you left yourself exposed. We'll need to do some more defence training later." Dipper just nodded. The fight had barely begun and he lost so quickly.

Grunkle Ford patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it," he said as if reading Dipper's mind. "You'll get better. In the meantime, how's the gym?"

Dipper's muscles ached at the thought. "The manotaurs are making me do all sorts of crazy things! All these push-ups and pull-ups and sit-ups and throw-ups..."

Grunkle Ford smirked a little at Dipper's joke. "Well, you seem slightly more muscular."

"Slightly," Dipper echoed.

"Yes, well, you'll get even better. I don't doubt it. In fact-" Grunkle Ford was interrupted by the sound of a car. The three of them turned as a limousine entered the clearing. Dipper noticed that Grunkle Stan immediately stood up straight. Ford didn't seem too deterred, so clearly it wasn't the government. Then Dipper saw Marius step out of the limo.

"Oh, it's for me," Dipper said without thinking. His grunkles looked at him, then at each other, then stepped back. Behind Marius, two men exited the car. They were wearing suits and sunglasses, like those bodyguards you see in movies.

Marius was wearing some red, formal attire that Dipper wasn't sure teenagers were supposed to wear. Dipper quickly glanced at what he was wearing. Same as always. Mabel was right - he really did need a wardrobe change.

"Dipper Pines, I wish to speak with you."

"Yes. I was hoping you did"

Marius glanced at Grunkle Stan and Ford. Dipper looked at them and gave them a thumbs-up. The two turned and went back inside. Marius then waved his hand and the men standing beside him went into the limo. Marius leaned in closer to Dipper. "I have not mentioned the man to anybody. Including Pacifica. Your sister told her about him."

"Yes, that's true. And I'm guessing that she told you, which made you realise that I was waiting for you?"

"No, not exactly." Marius flicked his hair out of the way. "I was confused as to why you told your sister, but not your great-uncle. But now I am curious; you were waiting for me?"

Dipper looked around. Grunkle Stan and Ford were watching from the window. The men in the limousine were watching intently as well. Gompers the goat (a wild goat that roams freely around the plot of land) was watching the two as well. "Let's go somewhere more private."

"That is a very complicated plan," Marius stated.

The two of them were sitting in one of the rooms of Marius' mansion. You could tell that Marius' family was proud of their Austrian heritage. There was a large red and white flag draped above the fireplace, where Dipper and Marius were sitting, on bright red couches with a decorative white stripe down the middle. Marius' outfit, Dipper now noticed, was also bright red with a white strip going diagonally across it. He looked like a baron. Dipper felt extremely out of place.

"Well, yes, it is. But as I've mentioned, we can't involve more people in this. The more people that know, the harder it becomes for us."

"You told your sister," Marius pointed out.

"She's my sister; I had to tell her."

"I didn't tell Pacifica."

Dipper sat back. "Well, it's Pacifica. She wouldn't be interested anyway." Dipper realised that he was being presumptuous, but he didn't really have any expectations of Pacifica.

Marius nodded slightly in agreement. Dipper's assumptions were correct. "Still, I have a feeling that we need more than two people to pull this off."

Marius was probably right. Dipper sighed. "Then what do you propose?"

Marius shrugged. "I don't know yet. Your plan seems simple enough, but we might need at least one more person. You say you need to act as bait, so that means that I'm left to quickly take the man down. We both know that is easier said than done. You were lucky that your kick knocked him off balance, but I'm not sure if we can try that again."

"Alright, so we need somebody strong enough to take down that man..." Suddenly, Dipper had an idea. "Grenda!" he said, putting his hands together. "She'll be able to do it!"

"Sorry... who is this Grenda?"

"One of Mabel's - and my - friend."

"Oh." Marius clearly didn't know who Grenda was. Oh well.

"Doesn't matter," Dipper said. "The point is, if we can get Grenda to help, then-" Dipper stopped.

Marius waved his hand in front of him. "Pines? What's wrong?"

"It won't work," Dipper realised. "Grenda would tell Candy, that's undeniable. And we can't risk it."

"So we need someone who already knows about the man..."

"Not Mabel. I don't want her to get hurt."

"Professor Pines?"

"He wouldn't let me do this. He'd call the cops in an instant."

Marius looked at Dipper in the eye. "Then..." Dipper knew where this was going.

"Alright. Call Pacifica. We need to tell her about the plan."

BLARGH! I'm so sorry, guys! Lots of stuff has been happening this week and last week, so I didn't have much time to do this. And as lockdown slowly eases and I get busier, I may have to start posting chapters every two weeks, rather than one week. But I promise that you'll never go more than fourteen days without a chapter!

What else? Last chapter went great apparently. You guys seemed to really like it, which I'm glad for. I'm not sure exactly what made that chapter so exciting, but if it's the action, then I can promise you there will be more. This chapter, admittedly, is more of a filler, but a plan does start taking shape near the end. You'll get to see the plan in action soon.

I'll try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible. I don't think I've got much going on next week, so I should be able to get it out by next Saturday. Probably. Hope you enjoyed this chapter (though it isn't one of my personal favourites, but still).

Until next time!