Chapter 10
The Punwidge Incident
A couple of days after Martin Dale's arrest Erika Gleeful rode her bike to the Ixcia. Gideon and Mabel were waiting for her. "It's about time you guys gave me the tour." Erika said.
Gideon wrapped his arm around his sister. "Sorry it took so long Erika but Ixcia is the fastest way to travel and a lot people need to see us…"
"Yeah, your trying to save the world. I get it! It's cool big brother. Heck, maybe someday I'll help keep those Imps off our planet." Erika gave Gideon a light slap on the chest.
Mabel pointed to one of the walls. "Just bring your bike inside."
Erika leaned her bike against the wall and looked up looking at the jet bike hanging from the ceiling. "Someday soon. You drew all these things on the walls Mabel?"
"Yep! It was part of my self-appointed mission to keep this crew happy and positive until we got home!" Mabel said with a big smile.
"And all these crates and stuff are…"
"Materials and components that we knew couldn't be made easily on earth or just didn't exist here. Like Vyron crystals for jump drives." Gideon explained.
"Okay so what's next?"
"The heart of this ship. The engine, I fixed, replaced, and upgraded about every part of it." After they came up into the engine room Gideon pointed to a small green cylinder connected to the engine. "That is the only known quantum infuser in this galaxy."
Erika kneeled do to get a closer look. "Cool."
They came out to the common area. "Ixcia what are you waiting for? Come say hello to Gideon's little sister Erika."
Ixcia's avatar appeared. "Of course, it is a pleasure to meet you Erika."
"Nice to finally meet you too. How are you liking earth so far?" Erika asked.
"I see why everyone wanted to come back here. You have a beautiful planet and since it is my crews' home it is mine as well and I will defend it."
"Speaking of your crew where's the rest of it? Since you're here that means Dipper and Paz are in town."
"They're over at the construction site and will call us when things are ready." Mabel answered. "We're building the house just down the road of the Mystery Shack.
"I get why you guys want to build a house in this town, it means a lot to you all to make your home here at last. What I don't understand is why the four of you want to share the same house."
"Dipper and I have been together all our lives and the four of us have lived together for eleven years. We just can't imagine living apart."
The tour continued for a little bit until. "There's only one other place we want to show before we show you the bridge, our room." Gideon said.
They went to the hallway leading to the bedrooms and bridge. Since their wedding day the doors closest to the bridge were repainted with the names Pines and Gleeful both in simple white. "Ready to see our little love nest?" Mabel asked.
The Gleeful door opened, and Erika saw there were a few spare parts on the desk and drawings still on the walls. The bed was bigger than when Dipper and Mabel first came aboard and the same was true across the hall. On the bed were two homemade stuffed animals. One was obviously based on Mabel's pet pig Waddles but the other one was defiantly some kind of alien. It was lime green, round, had four legs, two short tails, a short elephant like nose, and a large tuft of white hair that looked like the hair style Gideon wore in all the pictures she seen of him growing up. "What is this thing?" Erika asked.
"He's a Punwidge."
"Wasn't that the nickname the Raiders gave you Gideon?"
"That's right. I made this little guy for Mabel after we landed on a planet full of them." Gideon said.
"And it was on that planet where I had fallen in love with your brother." Mabel smiled thinking back.
Erika didn't feel like hearing this story. "Maybe we should head to bridge? Dipper could call any minute, so we don't have time for a long story…"
"No way out of it!" Mabel said pulling Erika into a seated position on the bed. "It all started when we were hired to enter a literal space race." Now Mabel had Erika's attention.
Eight years ago,
Pacifica was at the helm, her enhanced reflexes helping Ixcia dodge the asteroids in this portion of the course. "He's pulling ahead again!" Pacifica was talking about the three time champ they were hired to beat in a bright red ship.
"We won't lose him Paz!" Dipper said at navigation.
"Gideon the we're losing power on the starboard thruster again." Mabel was sitting at the engineering station.
"Already on it!" Gideon was making repairs as needed in the engine room with Soostron.
"Thanks Gideon!" Gideon could practically hear Mabel smile.
"This is the last leg of the race; we need to make a turn at the marker and make a full orbit of the planet. This could be our last chance to pass the guy and win the race." Dipper said looking at the map.
"Here we go then." Pacifica flew the ship in a matter like a drift turn during the orbit. Ixcia was closing in on their opponent.
"Almost there." Mabel said.
There were flashes coming from navigation. Dipper got a panicked look on his face. "Another ship coming in fast!"
The dark green ship made a turn like Ixcia's but slammed into the cargo ship which made it hit the champion's ship. "We're being pulled down to the surface! Gideon get main power back up!"
"No use, the relays just blew! We're losing systems one by one!" Gideon yelled strapping himself to an emergency harness.
"Hang on everyone! I'm going to try to level us out!" Pacifica said.
The planet they were crashing on was covered in large fields and mountains. They hit a peak tumbling down the side taking flight again for a short time before crashing into a large field on the belly of the ship scaring away local wildlife. Ixcia made a shallow trench until she came to a stop. "Is everyone okay?" Mabel asked.
Dipper answered first. "I'm good, Pacifica?"
Pacifica looked at Dipper with a small smile. "I'm not hurt, Gideon can you hear us?"
"I'm fine." Gideon said over the comm. "But just from a glance it's going to take us at least two weeks to fix the engines after that crash!"
The whole bridge crew looked defeated. Mabel got up and then asked. "Ixcia are you still on online?"
Ixcia's enlarged avatar appeared but had static on her. "Affirmative, systems oper…operating at 56%. Jump dr-drive, s-s-s-s-s-shields, and sub-light engines offline. We…we will be un-un-un-unable to leave the planet until repairs are complete."
"Let's see where we are." Dipper said pulling up the info at the navigation station. "Planet Farbo. Well the good news is it's inhabited, in fact we just passed over a city that's a short jet bike ride away. We can get any replacement parts we need there. Atmosphere is breathable and we're far from Imp territory for now at least."
Pacifica pulled other info after she sat at engineering. "Well here's the bad news. While we fulfilled our end of the contract by keeping the champ from winning the race with so many repairs and the cost of parts, we'll be lucky to break even on this job."
"Well let's look on the bright side guys! If we're here for two weeks, then there's plenty of time us to take in the local night life. You two have been wanting to go out again and this time we don't have to worry about the Imps coming so you can finish one without running back to the ship!" Mabel was pointing out the recent pattern that Dipper and Pacifica's had fallen into lately. If it wasn't centurions, then it was bounty hunters.
"Sounds like a good idea to me." Gideon said coming into the bridge.
"Thanks Gideon, what took you so long to get here?"
"I was trying to fix Ixcia's processors. How are you doing now Ixcia?"
"Systems operating at 72%" There was no static on Ixcia's avatar now.
"Great job Gideon!" Mabel patted Gideon on the back making him smile.
"Well it would be nice to have a date and finish a meal for once." Pacifica said.
Dipper wrapped his arms around Pacifica. "Alright, after we get the parts, we'll work on Ixcia during the day and head into town at night. We may have just got a working vacation."
They crew opened the cargo bay door saw dozens of small green animals outside with trunks and big tufts of white hair on their heads. "Oh, they look so cute!" Mabel said.
"What are they?" Dipper asked turning on the scantrix.
"These creatures are called Punwidges." Ixcia explained.
"Punwidge? The Raiders used that for my nickname." Gideon said.
"I can see why. They have hair just like you used to have." Pacifica pointed to one on the animals.
"You must be cautious around them." Ixcia said. "While not predatory they are easily frightened, and their mucus is a powerful defense."
Behind them a cable began to spark making loud noises. The closest punwidge took a deep inhale and pointed its trunk into the ship. "Get down!" Dipper yelled. Everyone ducked as a glob of blue snot flew over their heads and landed on the floor making a small explosion.
"Seriously?! These things shoot literal snot rockets!" Pacifica said.
Gideon then remembered what he heard about the animals. "Just like Grual said, attack their herd and things tend to explode."
Mabel just got up and began to lower the jet bike. "We just have to close the door when we leave do our best to not spook them." The group made sure that they were a good distance before they took off for the city the girls rode on the bike while the guys flew on their own. When they got there, they saw the city was surrounded by a tall and thick wall of metal. Mabel walked up to a large gate. "Hello, can anyone let us in please? We need to buy parts for our ship."
The gates opened and they were met by a plump man with large incisors and a metal peg leg. "You must be from that racer they flew over us and crashed. Welcome to Safe Haven City. I'm Binwerk and I must admit I didn't expect you guys to get here in one piece." Binwerk waved them in.
"Because of the crash?" Dipper asked.
"If that didn't get you the punwidges would have. I'm speaking from experience." Binwerk pointed to his peg leg. "So, you want parts to fix up you ship. Well we got plenty of shops that should have what you need but I highly recommend you focus your work on your shields first, cold and flu season for those critters starts in a week and well that's why we have the wall."
"Yeah, thanks for the warning." Gideon said.
"None of you guys are bounty hunters, right? Because if so, we'd have to throw you out of town. This place was founded as somewhere folks could get away from trouble."
Pacifica answered. "Trust us, we're glad to hear that."
"What's the night life like here Binwerk?" Mabel asked.
"We got a few clubs, some even have grintar nights."
"And grintar is?" Gideon asked.
"You go up on stage pick a song and sing along. What never heard of it before?"
"That's karaoke! I haven't done it in years!" Mabel was excited.
"And you'll get to do it after we get those parts. I'll take you myself." Gideon said.
"Thank you, Gideon! Now let's get those parts!"
As Mabel ran ahead of the group Pacifica decided to talk about their stay on this planet. "You've been on a roll with Mabel lately."
"What do you mean?" Gideon slowed his walking.
"Come on man." Dipper said joining in. "Being ready to work on the engines during the race, fixing Ixcia's processor, offering to take her to karaoke. You've been showing her that you skilled, caring, and fun. I'm sure if you asked her out while we're here she'd say yes."
"What?!" Gideon came to a complete halt.
"Don't be coy Gideon. Mabel might be the only one who doesn't know you still have feelings for her, hell she probably knows and is just waiting for you to make a move. These two weeks are the perfect chance and you practically already asked her out." Pacifica said.
"No, it's not like that!" Gideon stopped. "If I try to ask her out, she'll think I haven't changed at all!"
"Hey what's the holdup guys?" Mabel asked.
"We'll talk later." Dipper said. They got the parts and rented a hover truck to carry everything back to Ixcia and everyone got right to work. Dipper and Gideon were in the engine room while Mabel and Pacifica repaired the cargo bay. Soostron tried to finish repairing Ixcia's processors. "Gideon, you've been with us on Ixcia for six years and are now eighteen years old. I think you have been waiting long enough."
Gideon twisted in a component and said. "It's not like I haven't thought about it before. I would love to go out with her again, but would she want to?"
"Not if doesn't know it's an option. I think it's time you were more open with her little bro."
Gideon thought for a moment. "I think I might know something to break the ice."
That night the humans were in a local club. Next to the dance floor the tables were in floating saucers. Mabel, Dipper, and Pacifica were on the dance floor while Gideon sat nearby double checking his gift for Mabel. "Come on Dipper get into the music!" Mabel said. Dipper felt a little awkward until he looked into Pacifica's eyes. What no one noticed was Mabel was being watched by someone in a dark corner. "That's right Bro! Shake it! Woooooo!" The man was tall and handsome with long white hair, red skin, pointed ears, and yellow cat like eyes. He wore black pants and a long black jacket but no shirt showing of his six pack.
As he made his way to the dance floor, he heard people talk about recent happenings. "There was another break in. A lot of valuables were stolen so it had to be a big crew, but no one has even seen them."
"That's nothing, there was a fourth coma last night. What is happening to the girls in this city?"
The man walked up to Mabel and held out his three fingered hand. "Hey, name's Horvak. Care to dance?"
"Sure! My name's Mabel." Mabel said taking Horvak's hand. She was too busy having fun to suspect anything. No one saw a small yellow light go from Mabel's hand into a mouth in Horvak's hand that had three small fangs.
Horvak danced with Mabel thinking. "I haven't met anyone this positive in a long time. I'll get a lot out of her." Horvak then asked. "You must be new here."
"Yeah we're just here for two weeks while we fix our ship."
Horvak grinned. "She has a ship too. Good, a few more scores and then it's time to leave this rock before the Imperium comes."
At the table Gideon felt like he was punched in the face. "Oh great. As soon as I try to ask Mabel out some alien pretty boy swoops in and puck her away!" Gideon whispered. "No! Don't get jealous. She's just having fun, and this can only last two weeks."
Eight years later,
"I thought this how you feel in love with my brother." Erika said.
Mabel held up her hands. "I'm getting there. Sometimes you got to fall for the wrong guy before finding the right one."
"And you couldn't get much more wrong than Horvak." Gideon said. "I should have gone with my gut about him right away, but I didn't want to upset you Mabel. I thought you would think I was just jealous."
Eight years ago,
A few days later while working Pacifica found the box with Gideon's gift still unopened. She went to the bridge to talk to him. "Gideon why haven't you gave Mabel her present? Dipper told me all about it."
"I was going to until Horvak showed up." Gideon said. "And between all the work here and her going out with him every night I haven't really had a chance to give it to her."
"I wouldn't worry about him. We're not sticking around. I don't see what she finds so attractive about him. He's no Mason."
"I think your relationship is making you a little biased."
"It has been a wonderful year." Pacifica looked like she was in a dream. "We're at second base now, and we're so happy that we want both of you to find that kind of happiness too."
"Do you really think Mabel could feel that way about me now?"
"You are a really good guy Gideon. Much better than you were before, you're loyal, kind, you decided to let Mabel come to you when before you just wanted her like an object. I think she just needs a reminder that the you of now is a guy worth giving a chance."
In the galley Dipper and Mabel worked on fixing some of the appliances. "Okay, let's try this now." Dipper made a few connections on a food processor only for it to turn on and spray him with a purple paste. Mabel reached for a towel to clean him off. "What no laugh?"
"Oh, yeah I guess you do look a little silly." Mabel said glumly.
"Mabel is something wrong?"
"No, maybe. Lately I just can't seem to get happy without Horvak around. Nothing seems to cheer me up, not familiar pictures, not funny stuff like this, nothing and I don't know why."
Dipper wiped the paste off. "Everyone gets a little gloomy now and then. That Karaoke night is coming up in a few days, that should cheer you up." Dipper hoped for Gideon's sake that Mabel wasn't falling for Horvak.
"That would be nice."
That night the gang went to a track where small creatures called Donwobs that were like a furry six-legged gecko. "Go! Go! Go!" Pacifica cheered as the animal she picked crossed the finish line.
Dipper pulled Pacifica close and kissed her. "How'd you know 26 would win?"
"Just a guess, baby."
Horvak and Mabel were talking in a corner. "How much longer till your ship is ready sweet thing?" Horvak asked.
Mabel smiled. "The repairs will be done in in another five days." She then looked sad. "Five more days then we may never see each other again. Horvak I can't seem to be happy without you."
"Well I was thinking it was about time I moved on from here. I could go with you, be part of the crew."
Gideon overheard this. "You sure you want to do that? The Imperium is after us."
"Gideon!" Mabel said.
Horvak gave a smile. "He's just concerned. Truth is the Imperium is after me too."
"What for?" Gideon asked.
"I'm a Vodari, a race that's a part of the Imperium but I have problems with their policies, so I left. The Imps don't take kindly to that." Hovak then had an idea. "Hey how about a friendly little wager? Mabel here tells me you guys vote on things for your ship so let's each pick a donwob and race. If I win then you give your vote for me joining you guys."
"Fine! I pick 14."
"Guys you don't have to do this!" Mabel said.
"I'll pick number 1 of course. Don't worry Mabel it's for the best." Horvak said placing his hand on Mabel's shoulder.
The pair ignored Mabel and the race began number one had red fur while 14 had green. The pair raced on a table and at first 14 was winning but just before they crossed finish line Gideon saw a black blur touch his donwob and then it tripped. 1 ran past it and won the race. "What? How did that happen?"
"Bad luck pal but I'm glad I got your vote."
Mabel was angry. "What was that all about Gideon? I thought you changed! Are you so jealous that you can't stand the thought that I could have another friend?"
Gideon looked heart broken. "No, it's not like that! Mabel…"
"I don't want to hear it!" Mabel stormed off crying. The rest of her family was stunned in silence.
Four days later while Gideon worked on the engine Dipper, Mabel, and Pacifica were putting the finishing touches on the navigation systems on the bridge. "There, now we can tell where we're going again." Dipper said.
Mabel however was still in a bad mood. "Going nowhere you mean."
"Excuse me?" Pacifica asked.
"What is the point of all this? We're never going to find a way home!" Mabel broke into tears.
Dipper was confused. This was not like his sister at all. "Mabel what are you saying? In all the years we've been out here you have always been the one who has kept us believing that we'll get back to earth!"
"I'm sick of being the one making everyone happy all the time! Just leave me alone!" Mabel ran out and got on the jet bike and went to the city.
"Dipper shouldn't we go after her?" Pacifica asked.
"I'm not sure. She might she having a hard time because we're not spending as much time together since you and I started dating or it might be something else." Dipper said.
"No one was happier for us than her! I think she was hoping we would get together. No, it's something else."
"This change started after she met Horvak," Dipper turned on the comm. "Gideon we need to talk, meet us in the common area please."
"Just give me a minute and I'll be there." Gideon said. A few minutes later Gideon joined his friends. "What is it?"
"Gideon we're just as concerned about Mabel and Horvak. I'm sure you noticed how she been changing these past couple of weeks."
"Yeah, she been depressed when that guy is not around. It's like the thing that makes Mabel well Mabel has been fading away."
"Ixcia what do you know about the voldari? Is there anything that might explain this?" Pacifica asked.
Ixcia displayed the information. "Vodari are not normally considered that unusual. They are not telepathic."
Dipper had a thought. "Wait normally? You mean there's something about some Voldari that make them unusual?"
"There is an entry on their culture that matches the change in Mabel's attitude, but it is based on folklore."
Gideon spoke up. "Ixcia this whole crew has seen a lot of weird things before we came to space. Most from just one town! If that legend could be the cause, then we need to see it!"
Ixcia shown an image of a parchment with a Voldari with a closeup on the hand that had a mouth with three fangs. "Legends say that there is a subspecies of voldari called the Voldroki. They are said to be able to use the orifices in their palms to feed on the joy of others, giving them the ability to move faster than the eye can see. Those that are drained are said to be vulnerable to their suggestion. If this legend is true, then only one in ten million voldari would be born voldroki."
"After years away from Gravity Falls, we run into an anomaly." Dipper said. "That's what my great uncle Ford called things like this."
"If Horvak is a voldroki then it is little surprise that he is a fugitive from the Imperium. While you call him an anomaly the Imperium call beings like him aberrations and it has been a fifteen-hundred-year doctrine to destroy aberrations as they are believed to be against the order of the universe."
"And I thought the Imps couldn't be anymore messed up."
What will happen to Mabel if we don't get her away from Horvak?" Gideon asked.
"She will be so consumed with despair that she will fall into what the legends call an endless sleep that is most likely a coma. Legends say the only way to reverse this is to catch the voldroki, forcing him to release the stolen joy."
"Then we got to hurry! And save her from this emotional vampire!" With Dipper carrying Pacifica the trio got back to Safe Haven City. "Binwerk! Have you seen Mabel?"
"She did come by earlier. What you finished early?" Binwerk said.
"We think that Horvak has been feeding off of Mabel!"
"Have there been any comas or things happening that could be explained by super speed?" Dipper asked.
Binwerk thought for a moment. "There have been four unexplained comas in the past four months, all girls, and there have been thefts where no one has seen the culprit. I didn't think about it before, but it all did start shortly after that Horvak fella came to this planet."
"That's all we need to hear!" Gideon said before turning on his comm. "Mabel hasn't been answering, Ixcia track her location."
Binwerk called to the group as they left. "If you can prove that Horvak did this then he's bought himself an express ticket to a cryogenic prison!"
Horvak was zipping back and forth loading a hover truck with all his ill-gotten gains. "They've been trying to reach you huh?"
"Yeah." Mabel said. "Do we really need these things?"
"They're worth a lot of money. There that the last of it! Get in."
"What about the vote you wanted? Am sure my family will…"
"They don't understand that I'm the one that keeps you happy. We'll send for them when we find a better hiding spot." Horvak lied.
"Right…" Mabel said getting in the truck. They left just as the others arrived.
"Where are they going?" Gideon asked.
"They must be going back to our ship! Horvak must think that with his speed he can finish fixing Ixcia and leave." Dipper said turning on his communicator. "Ixcia, code triangle, triangle, triangle! Mabel and Horvak are heading your way! Do not let them leave this planet!"
"Understood." Ixcia said.
"At least they left the jet bike." Pacifica said as she and Dipper got on and Gideon followed with his rocket pack as they went back to Ixcia.
A few minutes later Mabel and Horvak arrived at the landing site which was still surrounded by punwidges. Horvak drove the truck right into the cargo bay. "Go ahead and tell her to get us out of here."
"Ixcia prepare to leave the planet." Mabel said.
"I'm sorry Mabel. I'm afraid I cannot let you do that." Ixcia said.
"It's never good when a computer says that." Mabel said dejectedly.
"It is this time Mabel!" Dipper said as the rest of the crew landed. "Horvak is literally sucking the happiness out of you! You've been caught Horvak now give back what you stole!"
"So, you learned the legends, except you got to actually touch me to catch me!" Horvak said. He opened the mouths in his hands and a golden light leapt from Mabel and into him. Mabel collapsed barely awake. "The joy from someone as positive as Mabel here for me is like switching from regular to premium!" Horvak ran toward the group looking like a black blur punching Dipper in the gut. "It's best I take all of you down. Then no one can stop me from hotwiring this ship and moving on!"
"We can't let you keep using my sister!" Dipper tried to punch back but Horvak easily dodged.
Horvak then kicked Dipper in the back and took his gauntlet throwing it into the ship. "She's not going last much longer! Most of my batteries last at least a month but with this much of a boost I guess that's the trade off."
"How can you just use people like that and throw them away?!" Pacifica said trying pin Horvak down.
"You'll understand soon enough. Mabel told me all about you. Someday it is just going to be one of you and you'll do whatever it takes to survive just like me! These valuables I stole will sure make I can do that comfortably." Horvak said taking one of Pacifica's daggers, her eyes became glazed swinging her remaining dagger, but she struck air. "Your reflexes are fast but I'm faster!" Horvak threw Pacifica into Dipper. He then turned to Gideon. "Now all that's left is you, big guy."
"I don't care how fast you are! You have brought misery upon the woman I love and you will pay a penance for your transgression!" Gideon yelled.
Horvak just laughed. "Big words from a guy who needs a gun…" Horvak took Gideon's hexablaster. "…and bombs…" Using the dagger that he took cut off Gideon pack and bombs while exposing Gideon's bare chest. "…to get anything done! Face it, I took all your weapons and I'm too fast for you to catch!" Hovak zoomed around to finish the fight.
Gideon looked around for anything he could use but all there was were punwidges. But he then remembered what he had been through with the Raiders.
"You can't always count on having the proper parts to fix things." Grual told him once when they were working on the engine. "That's when you got to get creative and improvise a new plan."
Draga and Gideon were on a ridge ready to ambush an Imperium transport. Drag shot one of the transports thrusters grounding it. "It's better to stop it altogether than chase after it."
Under heavy fire Holar threw a grenade behind them. "Explosives don't just destroy; they make things like a handy foxhole!" The pair jumped in.
During target practice Gideon was having a hard time hitting a fast-moving target drone. Chugar gave him some advice. "Don't aim where it is, look where it's going and take the shot."
Gideon grabbed the nearest punwidge and held out its trunk. Mabel looked up. "Gideon?" She never saw him like this before, she knew he was strong, but she never really looked at his chest, his abs, his biceps. He never looked so handsome before.
Gideon took aim and spanked the punwidge causing it to shoot out its explosive mucus right the path of Horvak. The explosion made a deep crater the voldroki fell into at full speed. "ARGH!"
The former member of the onyx brotherhood wasted no time leaping into the crater right on top of Horvak. "Got you! Aren't potholes the worst?" Horvak's hands opened and a large amount of golden light poured out. A big portion went straight to Mabel while the rest flew into the sky, some going to the nearby city the rest flying off into space.
"Gideon, you did it!" Dipper said pulling Pacifica up.
"Dipper get some rope! We need to tie him up!" Pacifica said.
"Right!" Dipper ran to the ship.
"Gideon…" Mabel couldn't keep her eyes open any longer. When she opened them again Mabel was in her bed and Gideon was sitting at her desk. When she saw him the memory of what happened rushed into her along with all the acts of kindness Gideon did over the years. She could feel it in heart, she was in love with Gideon of all people! "Gideon? What happened?"
"Dipper and Paz have taken Horvak back to Safe Haven City. Ixcia recorded everything he said, he'll be in the deep freeze for a long, long time." Gideon said. "I brought you here to recover."
"Poor Horvak, the Imps made it so he could only be a bad guy. Maybe when he gets out things will have changed; he can be a better guy."
"Always hoping for the best, that's one of the things I love about you."
"You never stopped, did you? Loving me."
Gideon was flustered. "Well…yes I just decided that since you said I had to be a friend first I never really acted on my feelings."
"That was years ago. Gideon when I saw you fighting to save me, I saw a strong, brave and smart man with a good heart. Nothing like the power-hungry creep you used to be, I think I've fallen in love with you too! It just took me this long to realize that you are…"
"Someone worthy of loving." Gideon said remembering the words Dipper said to him years ago.
"Oh, yes and I think the first step is to see if this relationship is something we should pursue for you to take me on a date. You did promise to take me to karaoke."
"Right, oh I forgot!" Gideon picked up a box. "I wanted to give you this since we got here, now you have one you can hug that won't blow anything up. I made it myself, I hope it's as good as your work."
Mabel opened the box and pulled out a punwidge plushy. "Oh, he's so cute! Look Waddles you got a little friend! Thank you Gideon I love it!" Mabel put down the plushy and gave Gideon a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh, my. Heavens to Betsy. I'm dreaming?" Gideon asked.
The door opened. "No, you're not." Dipper said. "And since my sister is clinging to you like a magnet, I can assume you two are now an item?"
"It feels that way!" Mabel cheered.
"Then you two should go out tonight." Pacifica said. "The two us will finish repairs, besides we're looking forward to a quite evening in after all that."
"Thanks!"
A little over an hour later the new couple were having their first date singing alien karaoke. "I got a Grez and a shotgun. And I'm bringing'em home to you!" Gideon finished sing an alien country song and while most didn't care for the song Mabel applauded. "Did you really like it? I wasn't sure if you liked country music." Gideon asked coming back to their table.
"I don't but you sing it so well." Mabel said. "Piker and Holar sang that all the time?"
"Mostly when they were drunk." Gideon sighed. "I still finding it hard to believe that we really are on a date after all this time. I'm scared that I'm going to mess it up again."
"Eight years, we both changed a lot. Gideon, I don't know if this will become something more, but I hope this is the beginning of something wonderful for the both of us."
"I'd like that." Gideon and Mabel then kissed deeply.
Eight years later,
"We married the very next year." Mabel said finishing the story.
"And each year we just fall deeper and deeper in love. Right Dumpling?" Gideon gave Mabel a kiss.
"Right my big strong punwidge."
"Mabel, Gideon everything is ready over here." Dipper said over the comm.
"We're coming bro-bro." Mabel thought for a minute looking at Erika. "But we're going to take a small detour."
"Detour?" Erika asked.
"I think I know what your plan is my sweet." Gideon said. Less than a minute later the three Gleefuls were on the bridge and someone was waiting for them. "Agent Trigger it's time. You don't mind my sister joining us."
"It's just a short flight to your new property so it's no problem." Trigger said.
Mabel sat at the helm while Gideon went to the engineering station. "You both should sit down." Mabel said giving Erika a wink. Ixcia lifted off and began flying.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Trigger asked as Ixcia kept climbing.
"Just giving my sis a treat." Gideon said as Ixcia flew out of the atmosphere.
Erika stared out of the dome in awe at the earth. "Woah this is the most amazing thing I ever seen!"
"We felt the same you when we finally got back." Mabel said. "I actually cried when I first saw home again after fifteen years."
Gideon got up and took Mabel's hand. "Mabel my angel Dipper and Paz are waiting for us."
"Do we got to go back so soon?" Erika asked.
"Mom and Dad will worry if your gone too long. Besides if things go as planned then in a few years this will become common place for you." Ixcia flew down back to Gravity falls to a clearing where a concreate slab the length of Ixcia was set for her to land not far from a house the was being built.
"There it is that is going to be our house." Mabel said.
The cargo bay door opened, and Dipper and Pacifica were right there. "So, you like your landing pad Ixcia?" Dipper asked.
"It is functional, clearly marked for guest to keep clear in case landing. Yes, this is satisfactory." Ixcia said.
Erika got her bike. "How long until your house is built?"
"Wendy's brothers are really good; they already got the foundation done. If everything goes smoothly, we can move in before the year is over." Pacifica said.
Mabel looked at the frame of the house being built. "Just think Giddy, soon this will be home for all of us."
Gideon wrapped his arm around his wife. "As long as I'm with you anywhere can be home."