The next few days were wonderful. The journal, the beast, and the two children grew closer and closer, becoming good friends. While the children enjoyed including Ford in all things possible, reading and drawing with him, they had a special bond with Stan. So many times the journal watched as the beast played in the snow, making snow angels and snowmen with Dipper and Mabel, or witnessed them playing chess, or heard of their times together from Stan himself, and Ford was so very happy for Stan. Maybe after all these years, he will finally believe he wasn't a monster.

Stan was always good with kids, but the twins were special. Mabel knitted him the promised red sweater within two days and even blessed it with a kiss, as was tradition. Stan bit his lip and put it on under his cloak and wore it proudly all day, only taking it off in fear of ripping it or ruining it.

The evening of their first snowball fight, Stan joined the children at the table and was so hungry that he had forgotten his little secret and buried his face into his soup like an animal, leaving his silverware abandoned by his bowl and making a mess. He suddenly stopped, embarrassed, and grumpily wiped his dripping, furry chin with his knuckles.

Dipper and Mabel, however, were not disturbed or digested, as he had predicted they would be. Dipper only smiled at him (he had assumed this was how a canine-like creature would eat) and Mabel grinned and picked up her bowl. "Yeah! Who needs spoons?!" And she drank her soup from the soul with a smile. Dipper did the same. Stan grinned, wiped himself clean, and picked up his bowl and lapped it.

The spoons stood up, huffed and stuck their heads up high, and left the dining hall.

The next day, in front of the fire as Dipper read a new book out-loud and Mabel worked on an orange sweater, it happened again. Stan made a hostile comment about his appearance. His tone was casual and even a little comedic, but his vocabulary was dark and unappreciated by the children. They exchanged looks before Mabel finally decided to say something. "Stan, I really don't like that m-word."

"What? Might?"

"No," Mabel laid her knitting down on her lap and gave him a firm yet gentle look; it reminded Stan of his mother. "You're not… It's not… I… It's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside!" Mabel finally settled on. "And you're full of giant, sparkly, dusty, mushy piles of gold!"

"Yeah man," Dipper injected. "Aside from a few hiccups, you've been nothing but nice to us. Don't put yourself down like that. You're not a monster." He added firmly.

"Not to mention cute and fluffy! Mabel added, ruffling the gray fur on his arm. "For what it's worth, we think you're pretty awesome."

Stan was stunned. He swallowed a lump in his throat and turned his head away, trying to hide a sniff as he wiped at his eye.

"Aw, Stan," Mabel cooed.

"Dude, are you crying?" Dipper asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

"No, I've just got something in my eye, that's all." Stan grumbled. "Staff's gotten lazy with the dusting. Wish they did as good a job as you kids with that ballroom."

Mabel and Dipper, who weren't fooled, smiled with pride, having just finished the ballroom today, and they resumed their activities in peace.

Later that evening, when Stan recalled the event as he prepared for bed, Ford laughed (or laughed as much as a journal can). I've been telling you the same thing for years. Stan can practically hear his brother's know-it-all tone.

"Yeah, well, it's different when those two kids say it." Stan snapped. "They're not blood."

Uh-huh.

"Shut up, Sixer."

Dipper tested the pulley system again while Mabel hitched Waddles up. There was a huge washing well in the castle, and though the servants would have been happy to do laundry, the twins wanted to test their invention in peace; they never did get to see if it was truly better than hand-washing. Mabel laid a trail of corn around the well and Waddles trotted along happily, then the kids sat with a book and waited. Rather than Dipper reading, he had Mabel read in order to practice, none of them having to hear someone coming along and stopping a girl from learning.

The clothes inside the barrel were spinning and getting soapy. Dipper and Mabel smiled at that and resumed their reading. Their invention seemed to be working. A soft knock on the door interrupted them and Stan walked into the shack. "Hey kids, just wanted… Holy Moses! What is that?" The beast asked as he looked at the odd contraption.

"It's our washing machine!" Mabel cheered. "Dipper invented it…"

"Don't even try, Mabel." Dipper teased and lightly shoved her by the shoulder. "It was your idea, I just helped you make it real."

"Wow." Stan bent his knees and watched the clothes turn and clean themselves in the barrel as Waddles pulled it along the well. "That's really impressive, kids. Really. Just… wow."

"So," Dipper said hesitantly. "You don't think it's weird?"

"Are you kidding? It's super weird, but weird's a good thing. I've never seen anything like it! It's unique!" Stan ruffled their hair and smiled kindly down at them. "I'm proud of you little geniuses. You did good. You know what, we should make this a permanent thing, make all the laundry go by faster."

As Mabel smiled, her bottom lip trembled. Dipper looked away with a red face. Apart from Fiddleford, no one had ever praised one of he and Mabel's inventions. For the first time in his life, Dipper didn't feel a freak for being himself.

Stan was admiring the ballroom again. Those kids did a good job with it. It sparkled and shined like a huge diamond. It looked more lively than it looked in thirty years. Everyone here felt more alive than they had felt in thirty years.

Tapping noises could be heard as Soos hopped up to Stan. "Sup, boss?"

"Just thinking."

"Ah." Soos hopped up onto the piano and smiled at Melody, who smiled back, before drawing their attention back to the master of this castle.

"Soos, Melody, I'm sorry."

"Oh," Melody sighed. "It's alright. It'll all be over soon, you'll see, sir. Once the kids' guardian takes them home they'll help you find a nice girl that will break the spell."

Stan snorted with a half-smile. "I don't think that's gonna work, but I guess you miss all the shots you don't take." His ear flickered. He lifted his head. "Hear that?"

Soos and Melody listened, but heard nothing.

Stan left the ballroom and listened. His advanced hearing picked up… groaning? Punching? Cautious, Stan followed the sound to the old chophouse in the garden. He opened it to find Dipper alone in there, but he was punching a makeshift dummy made out of wood. Stan watched as Dipper's noodle arms launched little, uncoordinated fists at a t-shaped wooden figure. He smiled and shook his head before emerging from behind the door. "I thought you said you didn't wanna fight."

Dipper jumped, short of breath, but when he saw Stan he relaxed and kicked the hay-covered floor. "That's not what I said. I just don't wanna join the army like all the other boys at school. I still wanna learn how to fight."

"Why?"

"Cuz Mabel needs me to!" Dipper snapped. Stan gave him a funny look, a look he couldn't quite pin as a warning or sympathetic, so Dipper sat against the wall of the shack and explained himself. "I can't go off to war because Mabel needs me here. If I went away and never came back she would be heartbroken. She can't lose anything else, she just can't. She already lost Mom and Dad and Grandpa, if she lost me, her twin, she'd… she'd…" The twelve-year-old rested his forehead on his folded arms and tried to compose himself. "I can't lose her either. That's why I have to learn how to fight. We almost died, twice. She needs me to be able to look after her."

"Sounds to be it's more like you need her. You need to make sure she's okay." Stan concluded.

Dipper sighed. "Yeah."

Stan smiled and bent his knees to be closer to the boy. "Look, kid, trust me, I might not know much, but I do know a thing or two about twins. You two need each other equally, trust me. Don't you dare think for a second that's not true. Also, I think knowing where you're needed most is a huge part of what being a man is, and right now you're the best at it I know."

Dipper lifted his head and stared up at the beast, whose eyes sparkled warmly. He smiled and said, "Thanks, Stan."

"Anyways," He stood up straight and motioned for Dipper to do the same. "Wood makes a crummy opponent. If you really wanna learn, I'll teach you how to fight."

Dipper stood up and accepted the offer, and so Stan taught him how to give a good punch and dodge pretty well.

Mabel was laughing over a story Ford had just written for her. They were having fun together, drawing pictures, playing games, and telling stories. A fun game to play was one they made up where Ford would have Mabel give him a collection of words and he would make up a story from such words. Since he found Dipper far more relatable, Ford was happy to bond with Mabel and get to know her better. She seemed lost in thought as she looked away, and Ford patiently waited for an explanation why.

"Ford," Mabel said quietly. "Fiddleford said books don't lie; is that true?"

Ford's soul smiled warmly. This book certainly doesn't lie. What is troubling you, my dear?

"Can you see me?"

Yes.

"Am I ugly?"

If Ford had a heart, it would have skipped a beat. Mabel mustered enough courage to look at him and was surprised to see the words not as elegantly printed like before. What makes you ask such a question?

Mabel sighed and looked down at her hands in her lap. "Back in my village, there's a lot of cute boys. Dipper calls me boy-crazy. I used to ask out a lot of guys, I mean, if you want something go and get it, but more and more just laughed at me. Called me a freak for liking to invent and read books. Said my cheeks were too fat and my teeth are too crooked and my hair is too greasy and…" Mabel's voice cracked and failed her.

Mabel, read what I have to say very carefully. Ford instructed.

Mabel wiped her stinging eyes to see better. You are the most beautiful thing I have seen in thirty years. You are very beautiful, both inside and out. No one is as kind as you, nor as insightful and delightful to be around. You - and your brother, too, for that matter - have made me feel more alive that I have ever felt, even as a human. So don't you dare think for one moment that you're ugly or that something is wrong with you.

Mabel's bottom-lip trembled. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she mumbled, "C-C-Can I h-hug y-y-you?" She only asked because when she hugged the closed book, Ford would be unable to talk.

Please do.

Mabel carefully closed the journal and hugged him like a teddy bear. Mabel cried, spilling about everything. Not just about the insults, but over the loss of her parents, over Grandpa Shermie's death, over being lost and scared and possibly never seeing Fiddleford again. Mabel tried not to cry on Ford's pages, but she noticed a drop falling into the book when she began to pull away and she quickly flicked through the pages to try to find her mistake. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She cried.

On a page, Ford quickly wrote, Don't be sorry. Water does not damage me the way it does other books. I know you must be tired of reading this, but you just reminded me of Stanley.

Mabel wiped her nose on her sleeve. "I did?"

He used to cry on my open pages, ashamed and overcome with guilt. Still does sometimes. I do not mind; on the contrary, I am glad to be able to wipe your tears away.

Mabel smiled, but still cried. She laid the journal open on the table and laid her little head on him, like he was a pillow, as she continued to cry. Out of the corner of her eye, the girl saw more comforting words on the pages. Don't you worry, my dear. One day a boy will come along and have great interest in you and treat you right.

"Th-There's one boy," Mabel whimpered, thinking of Gideon, "But he's creepy. I told him I don't like him and he won't quit asking me out."

Shall I tell Stanley and send him in this boy's direction?

Mabel hiccuped a laugh. "N-No, that's okay."

Regardless, one day your own prince will meet you and love you and love every part of you.

Mabel cried a little harder, spilling more tears on the pages that were instantly soaked away. He and Stan were such amazing friends. She would do anything for them. "Don't worry. I'll help you and Stan break the curse." She wept. "And when you're human again, I give you lots of hugs and wipe away your tears."

Ford's next words were very scraggly and a little hard to read. That would be lovely.

The next day, Mabel was in the ballroom. She and Dipper were done cleaning, but she decided that she should sweep one more time, just in case. As she did, Melody played a soft tune while the girl sang a made-up song. "They'll be human again, oh yes human again, when a girl finally sets them all free. Cheeks a-blooming again, they're assuming again, they'll resume their long-lost joie de vivre. They'll be playing again, holidaying again, and we're praying it's ASAP. They'll push and they'll shove, they will all fall in love and finally be human again!"

Mabel was soon dancing around with her broom, tapping her shoes and singing and having fun. Dipper and Stan, having just finished another fighting lesson, found her and were amused. Mabel ended with a dip of her broom and said, "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." The broom said and hopped away.

"Nice to see this room being put to good use." Stan quipped.

"Hey!" Mabel said, getting an idea. "Why don't we use it?! We worked so hard to make it nice, what if we dressed up after dinner and had a dance party together! We can sing and dance together, it'll be fun!"

Stan chuckled and shook his head. "Sweetie, you do not want to hear this voice singing, trust me."

"Aw, c'mon," Mabel begged. "How about it, Dip-Dip? Am I a genius or what?"

"More like or what." Dipper teased and then had to endure a punch on the shoulder. "But yeah, I think that sounds like fun."

"OH! We can even wear fancy clothes! We are in a castle! It'll be so much fun! And I bet Ford would want to come!"

"You're crazy, kids," Stan laughed, but smiled down at them with his hands on his hips. "But I like your gumption."

"I don't know what that word means, but thank you."

"Alright, alright," The beast smiled with twinkling eyes and asked, "You want a dance, you've got one! We could all use one. Tell Grenda to make you two clothes fit for a prince and princess, and after dinner we'll all come back here for a dance."

The kids cheered and jumped around, high-fiving and running off to tell Grenda. Stan smiled proudly and left to get ready as well.

Grenda wasn't the only one busy that day. It seemed like all the servants were encouraged by the small makeshift party to make the castle look better. Soos and Wendy worked together to gather a team together to clean the whole castle from top to bottom. Candy had the kitchen fix a delicious meal and Grenda and her girls put forth their best effort for the new clothes. Even Pacifica the mirror found it in here to compliment the kids' appearances. "Not bad, peasants. You clean up nice."

A dance. Ford wrote while Stan dried his fur, having just emerged from the tub. What a wonderful idea! You always were - dare I say it - a party animal.

"Sweet Lord, Sixer," Stan grumbled as he shook his long gray hair dry with a towel, his muscular chest exploded, free from his usual shirt. "It wasn't even my idea, it was the kids'."

Stan about to disappear to get dressed, but he read his brother's message first. Those children mean a lot to you, don't they?

Stan smiled softly and disappeared behind his cover for privacy. "Kinda a stupid question for a genius to ask, but yeah. Yeah, they're good kids. It'll… it'll be hard to say goodbye."

Goodbye? What do you mean?

When Stan peeked and saw those words, he sighed and said darkly, "Face it, Ford. Those kids won't be around much longer. Soon enough that Fiddlenerd guy or whatever is gonna find them and take them home where they belong. They'll finally be with their family again."

Ford's pages were blank for awhile as Stan slowly got dressed. For being the "smart" twin, he had failed to think that far ahead. Stanley, they'll come back.

When Stan emerged, fully dressed in all but his top red coat, he shook his head at his brother's words. "I doubt it. It's dangerous in the woods. Once they leave they might never find this place again. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you should enjoy having them around while we've got a chance."

The sounds of Soos' approach ended the conversation prematurely. "The little dudes are ready, dudes." The hammer informed.

"Thanks, Soos." Stan said and picked up Ford and closed him. "Brave faces, Sixer."

Stan stood at the bottom of the stairs with Ford in his right arm and against his chest, his left tucked behind him. He was having a deja vu moment from standing to greet guests of the parties back in the day. Stan could hear giggling from the kids as they readied themselves, and soon walked down, the boy leading the girl. Stan's jaw dropped, showing his sharp teeth.

Dipper had left his hat behind, his hair just long enough to be tied back with a blue ribbon. He wore a strapping blue suit with gold trim, much like Stan's suit (except his won was red), and he smiled proudly at his sister, at his right arm. Mabel grinned down at her friends, standing in a beautiful pink gown, definitely Grenda's finest piece of work to date. She had short sleeves that fell off her shoulders and the dress ruffled pleasantly, just the right height. What's more, her headband was gone and she wore a back-crown of pink flowers that matched her dress.

Ford could feel Stan's chest swelling with pride. Stan smiled as the kids walked down the stairs, and when they touched the floor, Stan bowed to them. Mabel and Dipper let go of each other and bowed low respectfully at their hosts. Then they all burst into giggles over the sophisticated nature and hurried to the ballroom.

Not only Melody the piano, but every musical instrument in the castle was playing for the small party. Stan put Ford on a musician's stand, open, so he could see and talk. Mabel took Dipper by both hands and they began to waltz together. Stan blinked in pleasant marvel that peasants could dance so well without any formal instruction. Holding hands rather than fips and arms, they laughed and spun. Mabel even lifted their held hands and spun Dipper. Stan laughed and Mabel skipped to him and grabbed his paws.

"C'mon, don't hug the wall!" She giggled and pulled him further onto the dancefloor.

Stan waltzed with Mabel, Dipper smiling and watching. He was nervous at first, but the kids melted his worries away and Stan happily led Mabel in a dance. Soon she broke away and Dipper hopped in, both men unashamed to dance together. Then Mabel and Dipper danced. The trio were judging each other, taking turns, and then at the climax of the song they all held hands in a circle and spun and twirled until Stan hoisted them up and sat them on his shoulders. They laughed as the music stopped and they could see Ford writing.

Bravo! Magnifique! Bravo, Dipper and Mabel! Well done, Stanley!

"Another one!" Mabel cheered as the band of self-playing instruments began to play again. Stan put her and Dipper down and Mabel rushed to Ford, tenderly picking him up and closing him. "Here, you should have a turn, too."

Mabel bowed to the book and then hugged him close to her chest and did a simple two-step with him, not wanting to risk any pages flying out or dropping him. Stan smiled at the girl dancing with his brother and he called, "Looking great, pumpkin!"

"Thanks!" Mabel replied.

Stan took Dipper's hands and they danced, this time more crazy and less traditional. Stan even showed the boy his favorite cocky-dance and Dipper laughed and did it, too. For another hour, the party went on. Ford was mostly placed on the music-stand, explaining he liked it best to watch, and soon Mabel's feet ached and Dipper was short of breath. All of them hot and sweaty, they went out to the huge balcony with Ford to cool down. Stan sat Ford on the polished stone and Dipper and Mabel sat with them, smiling with red cheeks.

"Having fun, knuckleheads?" Stan asked.

"Yeah," Mabel breathed with a smile. "Thank you so much! We always have so much fun with you."

Stan ignored the heat in his face by changing the subject. "Who taught you two how to dance, anyway?"

"Fiddleford." Mabel said. "I used to step on his toes a lot and Dip-Dip here had no rhythm." And she gently elbowed him.

Stan, on the other hand, noticed how withdrawn Dipper was and how he was looking out at the forest below them. "What's the matter, kid?" He asked gently.

Dipper didn't want to ruin the fun, but something heavy was on his heart. He gave Stan a sorrowful look and said, "I miss him. I just wish… I wish we knew if he was okay."

Mabel sagged a little, like a flower with no water, and took his hand. Stan's ears drooped and he looked away, thinking about the situation. Maybe he should try to find Fiddleford again… wait. "I think I know just the guy that can help." And he smiled down at the journal.

"Ford?" Dipper asked. "Can you tell us where Fiddleford is?"

Stan opened the journal. No.

The kids were crestfallen again. "Oh."

But I can show you. Ford wrote, searching. Look at my hand.

Stan closed the journal and the golden six-fingered hand shined before showing a reflection of Fiddleford. The kids gasped in horror as he was huddled by an old tree, coughing hoarsely, pale and freezing in the snow with a broken arm. Mabel's eyes instantly filled with tears. "Fiddleford! Oh no! He needs help!"

"What do we do?!" Dipper asked.

Stan had no idea what to do. He opened the journal for an answer and found a map being drawn on a page. On the opposite page, words formed. This will show you the way to your guardian. Take it.

"We can't rip…" But before Dipper could finish, the page fell out of the journal and onto the floor. Ford had intentionally drawn it on the page he could feel falling out.

Go. Was the only word left, and it did not fade away.

Dipper folded the map and pocketed it in his coat. Stan looked down at Ford, doing some quick thinking. Stan saw no possible way of breaking the curse. No one would ever love Stan. The kids were about to leave and they were never coming back. If he couldn't break the curse, maybe he could set Ford free, even if it meant they would never see each other again. Stan closed the book and held him out to the children. "Here. Take Stanford with you."

The kids stared at the journal, the golden hand twinkling in the moonlight. "What?!" Mabel shook her head. "We can't do that! You're a family, and family sticks together!"

"Take him," Stan said firmly. "You three should have each other. You can always look back and remember me, if you want to."

"No!" Mabel shook her head. "We won't have to, cuz we'll see you again! Soon! Once Fiddleford is okay, we'll come visit you!"

"Yeah man," Dipper jumped in. "What are you acting like it's goodbye for? We'll see each other again, don't worry. Come on, sis, let's save Fiddleford."

Mabel ran with Dipper away to go save their only family left. Stan watched them go, his brother in his hands. He wasn't sure what to believe.

Gideon pounded the bed with his little chubby fists before settling down. It wasn't fair! Crazy Old Man McGucket nearly got everyone in town lost in the woods and was now missing, too, all for nothing! Mabel was out there, probably ran away, and Gideon had no way to get to her! The whole thing was stupid, stupid, stupid! The ten-year-old soon relaxed, exhausted from the work, and fell asleep.

It was a starry night sky, nothing more, nothing less. Gideon looked around and froze when a collection of stars made a triangle constellation. The constellation shined bright and in a flash appeared a triangle with one eye, a top hat and a bowtie, twirling a cane.

"Well, well, Short Stack," It said to the boy. "Having a little lady trouble, huh?"

At once, Gideon's fears were gone when he thought this thing might actually listen to him. "Yes! Mabel loves me, but something's always been in the way!"

"Right you are, but don't worry, kid." The triangle said. "I know exactly where she is! Get this, she and her brother were kidnapped by a dangerous monster, a ferocious beast, in the woods. The castle's haunted and nearly impossible to find, but you're destined to take this ugly beast down and save your damsel in distress."

"I KNEW IT!" Gideon cheered and punched the air. "Where's my marshmallow?!"

"Hold it, let's shake on it, first." Bill said and held out a hand that was engulfed in blue flames. "If I help you, you gotta agree to help me later in return."

"Deal." And Gideon shook his hand.

When Gideon woke up, in the same hand he shook, was a map as clear as a bell on how to find the monster. He snorted a laugh and got up to gather an angry mob.

A/N: Aw, geez. Lots to say. First off, can you imagine how PISSED I was not only that the live-action movie didn't have Human Again, but on Disney+ that scene is deleted too! I might be the only one, but I LOVE that whole cleaning musical number and seeing Belle help Beast re-learn how to read. (I decided not to do that since Stan's been practicing reading for over thirty years.) So, yeah, I put the song in here and adjusted it a bit. And yes, the twins cleaning the ballroom was forever foreshadowing, not just the dancing scene, but what the kids were doing to their new friends.

I wanted to give both kids what we were deprived of in the canon GF show: Dipper and Stan bonding and Ford and Mabel bonding. Yes, we got Boyz Crazy and the Last Mabelcorn, but I'm greedy and say that's not enough. Also, Mabel's dress, according to artsycrapfromsai, is supposed to be a fusion of her dress in the Northwest Manor and Belle's dress, which I LOVE! (plz will someone draw it)

And now… yeah, I guess I can't talk much about the cliffhanger without getting spoilery, huh? All I'll stress is how many of the townsfolk were tired and cold and frustrated over the failed rescue mission when Gideon was throwing his little tantrum and that factor may play in later. Like why it takes so long to gather up a mob.