Breathe. So simple and easy to do that the very first moment an infant enters the world, they already are aware of how to gather it and let it out in a cry. The air around babies and elders alike give life, and flow through the bodies of those who connect to it on a deeper level.
Mabel let her breath slow down as she closed her eyes. Sweat slid down her arms and legs as an uncaring sun beat down on her and the region of Gravity Falls. The grass beneath her toes, she slowly moved from one stance to another. Her arms floated firmly, but not stiffly, around her as she graced the air in painfully slow speeds. This was not by choice; she would tell anyone who listened. Someone next to her performed the same dance, at the same pace, and the same tempo.
Mabel knew Dipper was sitting by the couch, watching her and her master go through a brief training exorcize. This would be the first time she really felt like she had to actually impress her competitive brother; after all, she had gone through such lengths to make sure he could start catching up with her. How would he feel if she couldn't even follow in pace with her own master?
"You're thinking too much," Arline suddenly whispered. Mabel blinked, but then closed her eyes and continued. Arline added, "Work now, think later."
"Right," Mabel replied, letting more air pass over her lips, escaping into the boundless forest before her. She was in darkness. A safe place of her own energies and mind, which was entirely at her command. The trick was not letting giving herself a command, but letting itself sit at ease, content in the idea of meditation.
"Okay," Arline sighed and lowered her foot, "I think that's enough for now."
"Okee-dokee," Mabel agreed and followed suit, and quickly shook herself loose. "Phew! Been a while since I did that, huh?" she asked her master.
"You're a little rusty, but don't worry about it," Arline patted her shoulder as they turned back towards the Mystery Manor.
"That was rusty?" Dipper asked with a fearful gulp, "Man, Mabel, I must be a total loser then."
"That's because you're a cute little newbie," she declared, prodding his forehead.
"I'm not cute," Dipper scowled and adjusted his hat to cover his forehead.
"Mmm cutie pa-tootie," Mabel chuckled and landed on the couch next to him with her rear, sighing and relaxing. "Gosh, it really is hot, isn't it? I didn't realize how much of a hog I smell like," she giggled, flicking away the droplets of sweat as Waddles rounded the corner, aware of her training being completed.
"Just keep that 'open mind' practice... in mind?" Arline tried finishing with concision, but only shrugged, "You know what I mean," she pointed to Mabel, who snickered and battered her eyelashes at her master. "Dipper, you should hop in some time and join."
"Ah, no, I'd just slow you two down," Dipper chuckled, and dug himself deeper into his journal, which he was editing for the day.
Arline placed her knuckles at her hips. "Being scared of failure is what stopped countless people with more potential than even me," Arline told Dipper. Such a burst of wisdom caught Dipper off guard. He blinked, trying to formulate what to reply with. Instead, he just stared at her. With a smile, she asked him, "Consider it, huh? I've wanted to see how well you train if you learned how to kick that high in only a month of training with your sister."
"Well, I guess it can't hurt," Dipper agreed to Arline's laugh.
"But it totally can!" Mabel smirked at Dipper, leaning close to invade his personal space. He replied and shoved her away.
"Okay you two. I'm going to be in town for the day," Arline told them as she turned and headed towards the motel rooms beside the building.
"Huh? What for?" Mabel inquired. She received a nudge from Dipper. "Hey," she grumbled to him.
"Mind your business," Dipper reprimanded her.
Arline looked over her shoulder. "I'm just catching up with my landlord, and an old friend who I recently got back in touch with. He'll love to know that I'm moving around again. He's kind of always pushing me to go do stuff," she chuckled to herself. She strode away, waving her hand behind her. "Talk to you two later."
"Bye!" Dipper called.
"Have fun with all the silly townsfolk!" Mabel called after her master, and then lifted up waddles to the couch. "Awww, are you a little hot today, buddy?" Mabel asked the pig, who quietly snorted.
"Give him a bath then," Dipper noted over his book.
"Bath-smath!" Mabel declared. "What he needs is a proper mud puddle."
"Uh, sure okay," Dipper snorted and nodded to his sister.
Mabel leaned onto his shoulder and looked into the journal. There was a lot of annotation she didn't recognize. "Edits going well?"
"Just a few things," Dipper said, "I figured it was a good idea to specify certain things. Like Lycanthropy: you can talk during the later transformations. That wasn't mentioned in Ford's earlier notes," he told her, "And the way he wrote it made it sound like you, as a werewolf, should have been able to speak during your first transformation."
"Well, sorry I was too hungry for sweet things," Mabel stuck her tongue out in protest and leaned on her pink pig. "Anything else?"
"Yeah. I had to add in the giant spiders page they can grow larger than trucks, I've tacked on the aliens section a lot since Yuki joined us, and I added that Tulpas may love music, since the form they assume had probably never heard it before. I'm still thinking about that one though," Dipper admitted, rattling the end of his pen against his lips.
As he had spoken, Arline walked past them, a new top and pants on, much more suited for town life and hiking than her workout with Mabel, with which she had worn dark robes with a red belt. Mabel waved to her and she returned the action, smiling as she left.
"My friends," a voice called to them from the door, and the twins looked up. Yuki was pressing his face against the door. "Perchance I might ask for a minor service later?" he asked them worriedly.
"Yuki, come on outside," Mabel asked him with a snicker.
"Ah, your grand uncle has informed me that I should remain inside while I still have work remaining," he informed them sadly, prodding his fingers together, "Although, I know not what task he refers to."
"Well then, what is you need?" Dipper closed the book shut and turned fully to their friend.
"I have long heard of human gatherings known as 'carnivals'," Yuki stated, catching the attention of the twins, "And I understand that there is one coming in the next days to this small town."
"There's a carnival coming to Gravity Falls?" Mabel gasped.
"Yes," Yuki nodded excitedly, "And I understand they are a dying tradition in this culture. I... understand that they are looked down upon by the age demographic the two of you represent," he admitted with concern to the twins, "But I implore you – let me see this spectacle. I will live many human lives on this planet, and I know not how many times I would be able to witness them."
"Aww, of course we'll take you," Mabel told him sweetly, "You shy-guy, you!"
"Sure Yuki. We'll make it a date probably," Dipper nodded. Mabel snickered and elbowed him gently.
"Yeah, but Dipper won't call it that if Wendy comes alo-" Two strong hands quickly wrapped themselves over Mabel's mouth.
"Ha, ha, we'll take you whenever you need, Yuki," Dipper grinned a plastic smile. The Alien looked with a tempered concern before turning back inside. As the darker tanned teenage looking alien left, Dipper rounded on his sister, who bit his fingers. "Ow! Mabel!" he hissed.
She rolled her eyes and leaned back. "At least you could pretend like she still knows what you said to her," she told him calmly. Dipper's mouth flapped open and closed, stalling for words, and probably cohesive thoughts. Mabel, patting his bitten hand, told him, "C'mon bro, it isn't that hard to ask her for a solid answer."
"Would you – ugh, shush," Dipper eyed the door again.
"Fiiine," Mabel grumbled, scratching waddles behind the ears.
Dipper finally turned back and glared at her. "Look, I've been thinking about it. Okay? I'm not just ignoring it!" his voice was low and fast, but Mabel's constantly hyperactive mind was able to keep pace, "But there's been some... weird things I've noticed."
"That's called puberty dude," Mabel snickered, and Dipper growled at her.
"Would you take me seriously for a moment?" he demanded, and she shrugged. But as Dipper opened his mouth to continue, his eyes flickered towards the road as Mabel heard something. They both turned their head. Someone had darted between the trees, coming closer to the Mystery Manor. Blonde hair was tied under a large scarf and dark sunglasses had caught the rays of the sun while the figure bounced back and forth across the dirt and gravel path. "Is that who I think it is?" Dipper asked as the person ran across the path again, displaying in-fashion garb.
"Pacifica?" Mabel asked, standing from the couch, to which her brother remained rooted.
The head of Pacifica Northwest popped out from the light bushes alongside the path, and scanned. It was like she was a radar dish; inspecting the scene before her for any possible threats. When it was evident she spotted none, her head temporarily vanished back inside and she walked around the plants in her usual stride.
"Hi Pacifica!" Mabel waved her hand to the blonde, who gasped and ran forward.
"Don't use my name here!" she demanded.
"Oh. Hi blonde girl?" Mabel tried again.
"Better. Just call me 'a visitor you don't know' for now," Pacifica told her, checking behind the brunette towards the motel rooms, "I don't need any of those outsiders knowing that I come to this place for anything."
"Yeah, because the truth certainly sucks, doesn't it?" Dipper called from the couch, to which he glared at Pacifica.
"You could talk," she returned the smart comment to Dipper, who clenched his jaw.
"Pacifica, what is it?" Mabel stepped between them.
She slowly removed her sunglasses and sighed. "Shade. I don't want to ruin my make up in this heat," she asked Mabel quietly. No problems there, Mabel thought, and guided her to the shaded couch, to which Dipper's scowls grew harsher. Pacifica stated, "I need your help."
"Nothing new there," Dipper quickly bit.
"Yes, okay, you were right, smart guy," Pacifica rounded on him, bending over and glaring into his face, "Move on, 'oh savior of mankind'," Pacifica turned back to Mabel. "I know you two are probably mad at me for trying to kick you out, but I can make this up for you."
"Well, shoot for it," Mabel asked, leaning on the wooden post supporting the roof above them.
"There's a carnival coming to town-" she started.
"We already know," Dipper sighed, rolling his eyes, "Yuki wanted to go to it."
"Would you let me finish?" Pacifica demanded of him.
He held his hands up, shaking his head. "I just wish you would," Dipper muttered.
"Okay," she breathed heavily, "there's supposed to be a freak show section. Now, I had a host of actors ready to play the usual mutants and what not, but... well, damn it Tambry," Pacifica lifted out from a pocket a very expensive and top-of-the-line smart phone, "She recorded everything!"
On a web-video, as Mabel walked around to sit next to Dipper, the twins could make out the commotion of the panicking audience as a giant spider crawled onto the stage and tried attacking Pacifica. It cut out just after Arline leapt onto the stage and attacked the arachnid.
"Oh wow, that's on the internet?" Dipper gasped. "That means people know what happened? Even saw us on stage?"
Pacifica looked exhausted with the video. "Yes!" she cried, "And now people want to know if it's real! The Northwests sponsor just about every single public event that happens in town, and the carnival is no exception," Pacifica explained, "But since people will be coming to town from, well, out of town now, they'll want something like this!" she held up the frozen frame of the spider battling Arline.
"Arline doesn't perform," Mabel told Pacifica with a sad note, "It's not in the path's rules to let other see what we can do."
"I know that. I ran into her on the way here, and she's just like you dumb people. Not into money. What kind of world – anyway," Pacifica shook her head, "These people, from out of town, want things that are really... well, you know, out of the ordinary! Something that isn't just an optical illusion."
"Okay, and?" Dipper demanded.
Pacifica sighed and asked them bluntly, "I need your help to go find something that I can use for the Northwest exhibit."
Mabel's eyes sparkled. Dipper glowered. "Oh. So, you kick us out from your show when you think we're a liability," Dipper quickly bit on the air, "But as soon as you think we're worth something to you-"
"Dipper," Mabel cut into his speech, and he crossed his arms and looked away. Pacifica looked red in the face and mimed his actions, looking the other direction. "Pacifica, there's some dangerous stuff out there, you know. Like, what exactly do you want us to even get? A cute half-cat half-bear?"
"Those exist?" Pacifica turned and gasped, her eyes wide with wonder and possibly shining excitement. She then coughed, and adopted her usual expression of superiority and power, "No, no, it has to be impressive."
Dipper sighed, catching both their attentions. Yet his eyes had lost their malice. "Define impressive."
"I'm looking for something inhuman, but possibly friendly that people can interact with," Pacifica explained, "That way people won't just assume it's our usual two million dollar hologram. If they can touch and feel it touch back, we've got this in the bag."
"So cute and fuzzy?" Mabel asked, bounding a little in her stance. "Ohhh, Dipper, we can totally do that!"
"Mabel, you definition of cute and fuzzy isn't standard," Dipper stepped off the couch, hands deeply inserted into his pockets as he stared into the forest, "Pacifica-"
Sitting on the couch, she was ready to speak on her own behalf. "I know, I have no right to be asking you of this," she quickly said. She then gasped, angrily groaning as she leapt back up, wiping her hands and rear of any dust and dirt that may have grasped on during her seat. "Ew," she mumbled. Turning back to the twins, she put her hand to her face. "Dipper, I know we're not on the best terms. Okay? I get it," she said directly to him, letting Mabel watch their talk.
Dipper was not sure where to go with that. Pacifica, extending any kind of olive branch? It certainly was out of his comfort zone. "I... guess you could say that," Dipper shrugged.
"And we don't need to be for us to just, well, exist. So, if anything, consider this a job for the carnival. Nothing but a job you do, and I'm not even in the equation. That way, you don't have to worry about me getting in our ways. Okay?" she told with a heavy breath. "Then, I'll try extra hard to not bother you anymore. It's… the least I can do. Sound good?" her eyes, unblocked by sunglasses, peered into his own.
Dipper's pent-up frustration seemed to wither. Mabel bit her lip, trying to hold a growing smile. They still could be friends after all. Dipper, sensing Mabel's elation, groaned. "We'll do it," Dipper extended his hand, and Pacifica took it. "No money. But we get a favor from your family if we need one."
"I can't guarantee that!" Pacifica heatedly declared, pulling from the handshake.
"Then no monster," Dipper defiantly told her.
The woman before him tightened up, clenching her fists, jaw, bundling her shoulders. "Fine, sure. You can have a favor from us," Pacifica nodded with a heavy head. Mabel couldn't resist anymore: she yelped and leapt at the two of them, hugging them as one.
"Aww! Look at you two!" she squeezed them tightly, able to lift them momentarily as they gagged and coughed. "Enemies! Then Friends! Then Awkward stage! Then Enemies! And now back to friends! Gah! You two are just the cutest!"
"Mabel, shush," Dipper groaned as he shook the pain from his shoulder. Pacifica had once again gone red in the face, and walked past Dipper without another word, glasses back on her face. He called after her, "When do you need the creature?"
"Just bring it to the fairgrounds when you have it," Pacifica told them evenly with a single glance back. "Remember. Big enough that you can pet it, but not big enough where it can crush stuff. Like cars. That's too big."
"We got the idea," Dipper shrugged.
"We won't let you down Pacifica!" Mabel assured the blonde as she stepped up next to her brother. Pacifica nodded back to them once, and then started her darting back and forth departure. "You know, she's actually pretty good at that," Mabel noted to her brother, watching Pacifica attempt to hide in the bushes from side to side.
"Sure. Whatever," Dipper granted his sister. "Well," he turned to her, "What are we thinking?" he asked Mabel.
"Cuddly... big enough... and real enough for people to think it's totally real?" Mabel asked Dipper as they returned to the couch together. "What could that possibly be?"
"Well, I have an idea," Dipper grinned as he spoke to Mabel, "Because we know someone who meets all those credentials."
Mabel scoffed and shook her head. "Grunkle Stan is not cuddly."
"What – no – ew," Dipper groaned and shuddered. "I'm talking about Multibear!"
"Oh! Oh!" Mabel gasped twice. Her mind was flooded with the image of that salvation bear, being ridden by Dipper to her rescue weeks and weeks ago. "I liked him!"
"He's a nice guy, and he is very cuddly if you just relax around him," Dipper told Mabel.
"Cuddly? Really? And you know this how exactly?" Mabel grinned, leaning into her brother with an expectant grin. Her brother averted his eyes from her gaze and cleared his throat.
"Either way, he's a cool guy," Dipper said to the side, "And he might be okay with coming down for a few days."
"Well, since Yuki and Soos fixed the windows, we haven't had anything to do," Mabel shrugged, "Maybe we can go up now!"
"Yeah. Yeah!" Dipper nodded and stood up from the couch, being followed by Mabel as he did. "Let's tell them we're heading out first."
"And then adventuring awaits!" Mabel punched the air excitedly, "Oh man! Finally, we'll be able to go to a section of the woods that aren't covered with nasty things."
Mabel followed Dipper through the door, walking past the screen and into the gift shop. As per the usual scene inside the gift shop on a slow day, Wendy had her feet propped up on the counter, nose deep in a magazine. Soos was by the corner, adjusting buttons on the soda machine. Stan was actually in the room, speaking to Yuki.
"Well, when they ask if they can have anything other than the room temperature tap, the answer is no!" Stan informed his newest employee, who eyed the twins as they entered. "Heating is expensive! I'm not going to shill out a water heater for each one of those rooms."
"But heating is crucial to destroying bacterium and other harmful pathogens," Yuki debated quietly, "They may become ill."
"Oi. Did the world suddenly forget to have an immune system!?" Grunkle Stan whined, and then let out a hacking cough. He then directed his focus to the twins, "Now scram. I'm sure you can find yourself busy with something."
"I suppose recalibrating the refrigerator to require less power can be useful," Yuki sighed and walked away.
"Grunkle Stan!" Mabel declared loudly, catching the attention of the old man, "Dipper and I are heading out to find and capture a live animal of unknown origin!"
"Again?" He quickly shook his head, "What? Is there a reward for unusual animals that I'm not aware of? Aside from the government sponsored ones. You're not getting tangled with the special agent types again, are you?" he asked worriedly, his eyelids closing to thin lines as he peered suspiciously at them.
"Not unless Pacifica Northwest happens to be a government Agent," Dipper groaned, "No."
"That sorry sack of sass?" Grunkle Stan laughed, "What? Working for her?"
"She wants us to find something and bring it to the carnival in a few days!" Mabel explained, "and we get... faaavooors," Mabel dragged out the word and widened her eyes, looking like a strange, hypnotized insect. Dipper eyed her for a moment, uncertainty in his eyes before he explained.
"Figured that Pacifica could give us money, or we could hold a favor over her head until we actually need something from her family," Dipper explained.
Grunkle Stan barked out, a single loud, approving laugh. "Love it! That's my grandkids for ya! Ripping the rich and well-off like proper pines!" he nodded. "Well, seeing as how this may give me a chance to get a second wave for advertising without being present," Stan puzzled and thought to himself, "Then... Soos!" he pointed to the handyman, who spun around instantly, "Go help them secure whatever they need in the woods!"
"You got it, Mister Pines!" Soos saluted and tossed the broom to the corner across the room. "Oh man, this is going to be awesome!" Soos told the twins as he rushed over, "We haven't done a proper adventure like this in ages!"
"Oh, what?" Wendy poked her head out from the magazine, "Soos gets to go?"
"Yes. As the employee I trust most with what I task," Stan eyed Wendy with a critical stare, "I'm much more inclined to let him go off on adventures when I see fit."
"Stan, c'mon man," Wendy dropped her feet from the counter, "I'm totally great at helping with those sorta of things."
"Besides," Stan peered at her with a strange, almost intimidating look, "Shouldn't you still be recovering from that wardrobe thrown at you?"
"What? Oh–" Wendy blinked, and rushed a hand at her back, "Right. Duh. My back does kinda hurt," she turned to the three, "Well... good luck you guys," she wishfully told them, "Go get 'em for me."
"And while you're here," Stan walked over and handed her the broom, "Make yourself useful for once," he told her. Wendy groaned, and placed herself back in the same position, feet up and head in a magazine, but also held a hand aside, lazily pushing the end of the boom back and forth, sweeping the same spot over and over.
"Well, I guess we're off," Dipper called to those remaining as he, Mabel, and Soos turned and exited from the building.
"When we come back with a dinosaur, we'll let you know!" Mabel cheered as she rushed out into the sun again.
"Not dinosaur – Multibear," Dipper corrected her.
Soos noted the name quickly. "Isn't that the gentle-bear who helped out with the five freak friends?" Soos questioned the two of them. They nodded in response. "Awesome! He's totally all... rawr! And Grrr! But also, a good-hearted bear who enjoys the company of others."
"Right. Well, let's get moving," Dipper told them as he led the march. He, after all, was the only one who knew the location of Multibear's cave.
As it turned out, it was with good reason Dipper was the only one who, among the group, knew of the cave's location. They hadn't just cleared the initial surrounding forest around the Mystery Manor, but now were heading towards the rocky gaps were Dipper and Mabel had been separated in the chase weeks ago by the five criminals. They passed over the river, where the same log rested above a river cutting into the earth, and even spotted the edge of the cliffs Dipper had told them he and Jessandra had jumped off of and soared away. They were really deep into the forest now. Mabel still wondered, walking with her two friends through the woods, if they would ever see those fairies again.
"I'd prefer not," Dipper admitted, "Having someone that vindictive around is freaky."
"Good thing you never met yourself," Mabel snickered.
"I did – wait, what is that supposed to mean?" Dipper stared at her as she gained minor speed, pushing around a tree with a giggle.
Then they met the side of the mountain. The trees gave way to the magnitude of the slope and rocks, rising into the sky as an impressive throne to a supposed sapient bear. With only a minor worrying thought from Soos, the three began to climb. The further up they ascended, the more barren the mountain became. Far ahead, in the side of the mountain face, a cave awaited. Dipper pointed and exclaimed to his sister.
"There! I can finally show you guys where he lives-"
A large, empty bag of beef jerky flew past Dipper. He cried out and almost fell back into Mabels arms. The three looked around. The air became a buzz of cat-calling and taunts. Dipper, perceptive as he was, spotted the source quickly, as he was quite familiar with the beings who acted this way.
"Great, they're here," Dipper groaned and looked to his far right.
"Who?" Mabel asked as she and Soos also turned.
"Manotaurs," Dipper grumbled.
Standing a good hundred feet below them was a cluster of four minotaur-like beings, extremely muscular and top-heavy. Their colors ranged in various furs, and all wore clothing that could be deemed... manly. Torn and worn jeans, old leather vests, bandana, and tattoos covered the fur of these 'Manotaurs'. They continued to berate Dipper with as much as enthusiasm as they could.
"That loser still hasn't built any muscle! Ha! Weak!"
"What a puny sissy weakling! Three years and he still goes back to Babba-Bear! Haha!"
"Ha! You're not me! That makes you weak! HA!"
Mabel looked like she had expected better. "These are the manotaurs?" Mabel asked with a disappointed scowl.
"Yeeaaap," Dipper slowly groaned, eying those below him with discontent. A rumble above him made the three turn, and Dipper gasped. A large, very furry creature with dark grey hair was emerging from the cave.
"Who hollers with such discontent!? Dare disturb my-" Multibear noticed the three looking up at him, "Oh. Hello Dipper, friend and sister to Dipper."
"Ohhh, look guys," the middle manotaur pointed to the multi-limbed bear creature, "The real sissy shows himself! Ha! I bet he can't even lift a rock! Above his head! Ha!"
"Or even put it back down! Hahahaha!" the manotaur next to him bellowed with laughter. Perhaps he laughed too hard, for his three companions eyed him.
"Too much, Lift-o-taur. Pull it back," the first speaker told the laughing manotuar, who slowly lowered his enthusiasm, "A little more... just a bit- there. Good."
"Leave me be, belittlers," Multibear snarled at the four below him, catching their attention as he towered above them. "I have no desire for a fight this day, but do not mock my friends!"
"Or what, tough guy!?" The 'leader' of the small group challenged, pumping his chest out, which caused the other three to follow lead, "You think you can out push-out-chest us?!"
"I have FOUR chests to use, fools!" Multibear roared.
"And guys," Mabel snickered, taking a step from Dipper towards the Manotaurs, who looked to her with uncertainty, "I mean, you really can't be all that tough."
The manotaurs had clearly never heard a soul speak ill of such a topic. Their leader bellowed, "You dare question our masculinity?!" his voice echoing across the mountain passes.
Mabel simply laughed and pointed. "C'mon dude, I saw that bandanna you're wearing in a girl's designer store," she giggled, pointing at the red, but slightly flora design on his fabric. "It is cute though! Kinda clash-y, though."
"I- What?" the manotaur gasped, eying the top of his head, holding onto his horns with trembling fingers.
"Ha, yeah dude," Soos added, "doesn't really fit well with your fur color. Maybe a nice salmon, or even some burgundy."
"Oh! Lilac!" Mabel exclaimed at Soos, who only mirrored her excitement.
The manotaur stared at them, his eyes growing red as veins swelled in size. Fury was building up so violently in his body that it looked like he might explode. Or... maybe not fury. Suddenly he sniffled, and looked at the ground in shame. "I found it on the ground and thought it looked cool!" he declared in a shaking voice. He spun around and ran down the mountain, bawling like a baby. "My whole manliness is a lie!" he cried. His three friends followed him with worry, trying to shout comforting, granted manly, assurances to him.
"Expertly done," Multibear commended Mabel as he nodded in approval. "They constantly have a patrol party of hecklers who arrive to annoy me with their incessant moaning."
"Aw, don't mention it," Mabel waved to the bear, "I'm just glad I could help out with a friend who helped me out."
The bear's many faces smiled. "Naturally. I assume you three have come to my liar for a reason? I do enjoy visitors, but we bears," the speaking head of multibear looked to his other head-companions, "Are still solitary creatures."
"You don't like hanging out with people, dude?" Soos asked worriedly.
"No, I was just about to start listening to BABBA's newest re-mastered album release, and I know it is under-appreciated by many listeners," the bear explained, turning and leading them towards his cave "But you may come inside as I listen to its melody."
"Wow!" Dipper exclaimed, "They have a re-master of it now!?" Mabel and Soos eyed Dipper for a moment, before he coughed and crossed his arms, "That's pretty cool. Yeah. Hope you enjoy it."
"So, my friend," Multibear asked as they passed the dark threshold of his outside cave, "What brings you to my lair? I do hope it is of peaceful things, and not more mauling. Although criminals being crushed doesn't upset me necessarily."
"Multibear," Mabel stepped up quickly, "We've come to invite you to be a part of the Gravity Falls carnival!" she announced excitedly, "Complete with a free pass, plenty of attention, and all the food you can eat! Maybe even people! Do you eat people?" she asked, suddenly forgetting if this bear ate human flesh.
"I do not eat humans," Multibear waved a paw that stuck out from his shoulder.
"Oh good!" Soos happily exclaimed, "Because people don't like it when other people are eaten in front of them," Soos explained behind Mabel, "Sort of makes them uncomfortable, you know? Like 'oh wow that could be me', sort of thing? Hah. Crazy, right?"
Dipper stepped to his old bear friend. "So, we were hoping you could come down with us and sort of, you know," Dipper nudged one of the bear's heads, scratching one of the several pairs of ears, "Be an exhibit for us."
"An exhibit?" Multibear asked with a scoff, turning, "Dipper, who would I exactly be presenting myself to?"
"Uh... the general populace?" he answered with uncertainty.
"Ah. This displeases me to let you down, my friend," Multibear told him with a solemn shake of his head, "But I will partake in no such activities."
"Ah, what?" Dipper moaned, stepping over to directly face the primary head, "But dude, we could totally show people about you and how cool you are! Just think how awesome it would be for BABBA to visit you! Well, the members who are still alive, at least," Dipper added with a second thought of worry.
The large bear-creature before them shook his head and stopped his advance into the cave. "Dipper, I am an aberration of the world," he spoke to them calmly, a weight in his voice as he spoke to them, "Made as a cruel joke to nature. Hence, I will remain my days here in the mountains until such actions force me to re-locate," he stated sadly, "All I wish is to be accepted as a lonely bear. Well, bear with many heads. And legs. And forearms. Torsos."
"But Multibear," Mabel stepped forward, "You deserve to be at least understood. I'm sure in those seven heads-"
"Eight," Multibear said.
"-Eight fuzzy-heads of yours," Mabel added with more positive gusto, "Have plenty of crazy cool ideas that the world deserves to hear! You just gotta get out there," she held one of the heads closer to her, and directed it to look out the cave with her, cradling it as she waved the hand before them both, "And see the whole, wide world- Soos, move aside for a second," she said, as blocking half the view. He scooted aside in one large step. "There- wiiiide world," Mabel finished.
"You are too kind, the two of you," Multibear said to them with a pleased glint in his eye, "And thank you Soos for not obstructing my view."
"It's what I'm here for dude," Soos gave him a thumbs up and winked.
"But I will not change my ways. Once I saw my effects on common-folk," Multibear told them, "And now I will live my live here, on this mountain, in peace."
"But, but Multibear," Dipper quickly started.
The bear turned to him quickly. "However, I may have a solution for you," the bear pondered, scratching the side of his main face with the same oddly-positioned arm.
"Y-you might?" Dipper repeated.
"Awesome! I didn't know there were more hexapedal bears like you!" Mabel ran next to her brother, who gaped at her.
"What did you just say?" he asked.
"Awesome?" she replied.
"You used the word 'hexapedal'," Dipper gaped at her in amazement, "Since when did you learn that?"
"Since forever ago," Mabel winked at him with a playful grin.
"There are none like me," Multibear explained, "But, there are other options if you seek something to bring back with you."
"Ah good," Soos sighed, letting go of the rope he had begun to slowly ease out of his pockets, "Guess I don't need this then."
"High, much higher than my rest here," Multibear looked to the roof of his cave, "Lies an ice-covered cavern. I rarely travel higher, except on crazy-hot days, where I just need to chill out, you know?" he asked them, and they nodded with complete sympathy and understanding, "Anyway, one day I licked away enough ice from a wall to reveal... well..."
"Find what?" Dipper asked.
"You had ought to go up and find out yourself," Multibear told them, a looming danger in his words that they all detected. The twins looked back to Soos, and the three exchanged a simultaneous gulp in their throat.
"Well, thanks for that creepily ominous message," Soos tipped his hat to the bear as the other two waved their hands back, walking out of the cave, "And uh, thanks for not eating us dude."
"No problem, Soos, friend of Dipper," Multibear nodded once, "Farewell my friend, Mabel, sister of Dipper. I wish you well on your journey."
"Thanks bud!" Dipper smiled back.
"Bye, you awesome, mountainous collection of fuzz, you!" Mabel shouted as she bounded from the cavern. "C'mon guys! Worrying stuff is up there!" she pointed up, looking higher into the mountain. They were not far from the white cap of the mountain. High above them, and into the cold peaks, was an entrance to a possible cave.
"So, I'm just going to point out that a bear that probably weighed more than a ton was hesitant to point out what exactly was up there," Dipper told his sister and Soos, who nodded in thought, "Maybe we shouldn't-" His sister dashed ahead. "Mabel!"
"Last one there has to stick their tongue onto the ice crystals!" Mabel shouted as she started running up the steep cliff side.
Behind her, Soos huffed and puffed, clearly enticed to escape such a fate. Dipper soon followed suit, and Mabel laughed. This was just another warm up for her, running through the cold air and then through the snow. She could hear them racing after her, and were apparently neck and neck.
"Aha!" Mabel declared as she found herself cloud level. Turning around to the world behind her, she couldn't help but let out a small gasp. Gravity Falls, the entire valley, and forest it resided in, was just a small droplet before her, and the world fell out like a uncoiling misty adventure. She grinned as Dipper huffed after her.
"Nice... trick to... make me sweat... jerk," Dipper complained as he heaved. Next to him, Soos's hand shot up and plunged into snow as he dragged himself up after them.
"Y-y-you can complain dude," Soos managed, breathing in rapid, short bursts, "But at least... you don't have to carry this around," he held a section of his stomach, but then turned to it, "Aww, at least you're keeping me warm."
"Well?" Mabel asked, hopping up and down in the snow, "Let's go check out the inside! Maybe we can make friends with a Yeti!"
"It would be a bigfoot in this region of the world," Dipper pointed out to her as he followed past the larger of the ice-spikes on the floor, "as yeti take home in Siberia and mountainous regions in Asia. Ford only mentioned about an abominable bro-man? I dunno. We should be careful is what I'm saying."
"You don't really think that Multibear meant there could be something up here that's... dangerous?" Mabel asked Dipper, wondering as the light reflections grew dim as they walked further inside.
"I doubt he'd send us up here if he thought that it would hurt us. He's not a bad-" Dipper started, but was cut short.
A horrible snapping sound caused both twins to help and turn around to face the source of the sound. Holding onto one another, the twins blinked. Soos had bitten off an entire top half of a five-foot icicle, and was carrying it with one hand as his mouth bit down on it.
"Whab?" he asked, "I losb. So I hab do preff my donbue againb deb ife," he told them as best he could.
Dipper gaped at him, and Mabel lost it. She fell backwards, laughing her hardest as she buckled and kicked into the air. Dipper, trying his best to not laugh with his sister, approached Soos with as much incredulity as he could. "Soos, this isn't the best time to take a bet like that seriously," Dipper groaned as he approached the now slightly helpless man. "Can you take it off?"
"Nob really," Soos shrugged, "ids why I broke off de dob half," he explained as Dipper tried finding a point of leverage.
Mabel watched, standing up and approaching the struggling pair. "Wait, I think I can warm up the ice," Mabel told them with the last traces of her amusement fading. "I just need a second."
"Nahm ib okay, I god dis," Soos declared, and then huffed loudly. He spun around, swinging the ice around him like a madman, still attached to his mouth and tongue. He roared loudly, and either the force of the spinning or the heat of his breath, he finally tossed the two-and-a-half-foot ice spear away. It was thrown across a large distance until it smashed against a large block of ice. The twins cheered and clapped with Soos.
Their claps did not go unpunished. The landing spot of the ice cracked, and the three froze. A spreading crack slowly grew and grew, until it was the size of an entire wall before them, and as they stared, they realized, a large blurred shape awaited them from the other side. Before a single one of the three had a chance to do anything else but watch the cracks spread, it all fell before them, revealing the unfocused outline.
Thick, course, brown fur covered its body. Four thick, cylinder legs pressed into the cold snowy dirt with heavy uncertainty. Two tusks stuck out from a mouth, covered by a long flexible and lively trunk. Two small beady eyes peered out fearfully at the three as they stared at an animal, about two feet higher than Soos. It was an animal the three of them knew should not be alive.
"Holy cow," Soos exclaimed softly, "It's... a woolly-"
"Mastodon!" Mabel shrieked and ran forward like a bolt of lightning. Some things, some dreams, would never come true. Mabel had always wondered if she would ever have the chance to hug a real elephant one day. Certainly, a possibility. But this... a real, life Mastodon? Not on her life would she have bet this. She would risk scaring the poor thing – she would die hugging it if she had to. To her immense luck, the large creature allowed her hasty approach, and watched as she grasped its leg, rubbing her face all along its coarse hairs. "You feel like lint-balls! Hehehe!"
"I can't believe it," Dipper exclaimed as he slowly approached the animal his sister was shoving her face into, "This type of animal has been extinct for thousands of years."
"Ten thousand, estimated," Mabel poked her head out from the fuzz, grinned, and resumed her nuzzling.
"Mabel... how did you-"
"I like animals," Mabel admitted, pulling herself away and patting the creature's arm. "So, whenever I had a class in bio, I paid attention whenever animals popped up. And all sorts of Elephants are just so cuuuuuute," she told him, and hugged the low-hanging neck of the Mastodon, who moved its truck to her hair and started sniffing, "Oh! Why hello there, Missus Mastodon! Hahaha!"
"Missus?" Soos asked as he too slowly approached the large animal, which seemed more and more to grasp and rub Mabel's hair with it's trunk.
"Well she's obviously a girl," Mabel told them, looking away from the pre-historic creature, "Her trunks are too small for a guy. That, and her eyelashes are just so large and her eyes are so expressive!"
"Huh. I'll take your word on those last two," Dipper grinned as he walked past the two large tusks the animal presented and walked behind Mabel, "You think it- she's, friendly?" he asked. The trunk patted his head suddenly. "Oh. Hi?" he nervously said.
"Of course, she is! I bet she's sick to death of being alone up here!" Mabel told Dipper as the trunk examined his hat and hair. Mabel giggled, patting the side of the head gently as the dark eyes of the ancient animal looked down to her. She was right about the Mastodon. There was such a relief in those stares – something more than just thankfulness, but longing. Had this poor elephantine creature been aware of all the years passing while locked in the perpetual ice? "You poor thing," Mabel patted, squeezing a bit more. "You aught to get a name, you know that?"
"How about Mina?" Soos suggested.
"What kind of name is-" Dipper started, but the Mastodon lifted her trunk and let out a loud call, startling the boy before her.
"She loves it!" Mabel answered, "Or at least that's my interpretation of it. I'm kinda shy on ancient elephant. Pig, llama, alpaca, sheep, goat- elephant I'm okay with, but Ancient Elephant? I'm pulling on straws."
"You're saying you can speak sheep?" Dipper asked, staring at his sister with uncertainty.
"Duh!" she replied, but turned to the Mastodon, "So then, Mina, how about we get you out of here and take you someplace a little more warm?"
"Mister Pines, I must implore you to reconsider," Yuki said, following Stan out into the Gift shop, where Wendy sat with her feet up, lazily looking into the magazine of her choice, 'Passive-Aggressive Stances and More; But We're Fine, Don't Bother Asking'. Yuki complained, "Without those heaters, things could lead to larger growths of dangerous infectious diseases."
"Look, kid, wait... you're older than me, aren't you? Huh. Listen Yuki," Stan turned to him, "You need to get this clear. Everything is about money. If I put out those heaters, I have to charge them more, and I'm still not getting enough business for that to make sense."
"But... but is that ethical?" Yuki demanded.
Stan laughed. "Ha! That's great! Ethics! Oh, that's a great one," Stan turned from him and marched out the door. Grunkle Stan was just about to turn towards the trash can, where he intended to toss out his old Newspaper from the day before, when something very loud and trumpet-like blasted in his face. "Whoa!" he shrieked as he fell backwards and stared up in terror. The black outline of two figures beside a large creature, and a lone girl riding said creature blotted out the bright blue sky. "What... what the heck?"
"What is that noise!?" Yuki shouted from the inside, and he came running out, and began to assist Stan to his feet as he stared at the creature before him. Yuki, stunned, could barely stammer out, "A-amazing."
From atop the small Mastodon, Mabel shouted, "Mina says hi!"
"Did I hear an elephant?" Wendy asked as she too stepped out, and gasped. "Whoa-ho-hoo, I totally did! A small, furry elephant."
"She's a Mastodon named Mina," Mabel declared as she leapt down from the back of the creature, patting her side as she approached, "Part of an extinct species that roamed these lands long ago. Pretty crazy, huh?" Mabel said with a grin as she, Dipper, and Soos stood aside the pre-historic animal while it let off another loud blast from its trunk.
"You said... extinct!?" Stan stared at the creature. "Like, the last one of its kind?!"
"Mina is going to be the ultimate diva," Mabel announced, "There literally is no other Mastodon out there."
"But that means she's unique," Stan stood up, dusting off his jacket and pants with vigor, "And people... people will pay more for something that's unique. And if she's staying here," Stan eyed the large creature, "I can open a miniature zoo!"
"Uhh, sure?" Mabel replied, worried that she saw more dollar bills behind Stan's eyes than awe of the majestic creature.
"Mabel, sweety!" Stan roared with excitement, rushing forward and lifting his grand-niece into the air, "You're going to make us millionaires!"
"What!?"
"Just think!" Stan said to her as he laid her back down, leaning closer to her to address her and the group simultaneously, "The last one of her kind, found in a motel in the middle of nowhere? People are already aware that this place exists, and now, with this!? Folks from all over the world are going to come and drop their wallets into my basket! I'm finally going to be rich enough to retire!"
Dipper, patting Mina's front leg, shook his head. "I'm just going to point out the last time you thought your scheme would get you rich, it didn't pan out as well," Dipper told Stan as he patted the tusk of Mina, who affectionately scratched his head with her trunk.
"Shush! That woman isn't here to ruin my plans now! Doing stuff in town, ha!" Stan rubbed his hands together excitedly, and walked up the Mastodon, who eyed him worriedly, "Listen here, trunky –"
"Mina," Mabel warned him with a dangerous tone.
Stan continued, too enraptured with the concept of cash. "We're going to be good, good friends. I give you a place to stay and all the food you can imagine, and you make me richer than my wildest dreams! Sound fair?"
Mina the Mastodon quickly took her trunk from Dipper, grasped off Stan's fez from his head, and ate it in one quick swoop.
"Hey! My fez!" Stan bellowed, but stopped short. The Mastodon continued to eye him expectantly as she loudly chewed on the red fabric. Stan cleared his throat. "Ah, well, that's okay. It's only sentimental value, hah," he laughed nervously, aware that he was between two very large tusks at his head level. "I'll take your eating of my hat as 'a deal'." She then reached into her mouth, and spat out the sopping wet fez, throwing it into Stans face.
"I don't know if that meant she liked the deal or disliked your hat," Mabel pointed out. Stan had already turned and marched into the house, rubbing his hands together like a Machiavellian villain.
Wendy took her turn to introduce herself. "Hi there, Mina," Wendy approached the Mastodon. Surprise to all, Mina actually stepped away from Wendy. Wendy asked, a little put down, "Aw, no love for the redhead?" Mina blew a short, frightened trumpet, and Wendy eyed the others. "She doesn't like me very much, huh?"
"Aww, don't be scared of Wendy," Mabel comforted the Mastodon, rubbing her neck and ears gently, "She may look like a crazy-awesome warrior princess, but she's just a good person who happens to be a crazy-awesome warrior space-princess." Mina looked from Mabel, to Wendy, who gave a shy smile to the large creature. A shaky trunk slowly extended out, and touched Wendy's nose, but then instantly coiled back. "See? She doesn't bite," Mabel snickered at Mina.
Yuki passed by Wendy as Dipper walked around the Mastodon. "Mabel, can I talk to you for a second," Dipper said as Yuki and him flanked her.
"What's up?" she asked as the two stepped slightly away from the mystery shack while Soos and Wendy tried talking to Mina, who seemed much less comfortable without Mabel.
"Dipper and I are of similar thought, it seems," Yuki told her.
"Mabel, this is an extinct species. The last of it's kind," Dipper re-iterated again, "Which means if we let her stay here, history will just repeat itself."
"Huh?" she eyed the two of them with a raised eyelid. "What are you talking about?"
Excitedly, Yuki explained, "We are under the belief that this young Mastodon is the salvation of her species. This is an opportunity that, while Stan's intentions are, eh, well thought out," he glanced back to the shack, clearly checking to see if his employer was listening into their discussion, "Is simply too important to let greed intervene."
"Wait, what exactly are you two saying?" Mabel crossed her arms and stared at the brown eyes and the pink eyes. "Just talk like a normal human being would!"
Dipper, able to succinctly explain, quietly stated, "We need to donate Mina to science."
"What?!" Mabel declared in a hiss.
"Mabel, please understand," Yuki leaned closer, "this creature's species extinction was a result of human interference. It was because of the mass hunting from primitive mankind that brought this majestic animal," as he said this, Mina started playing patty-cake with Soos, "To their pre-mature end. We now have a chance to rectify this."
"Just imagine," Dipper also leaned in, trying to capture her attention as she watched Soos and Mina play, "Mastodons walking the American prairie again. A new species introduced into the American wilderness that can bring balanced to the North American Ecosystem."
"I was pretty sure there was balance already," Mabel looked to her brother.
"...more balance?" he suggested.
"Guys, look, I get it," Mabel put a hand on each of their shoulders, "It's a noble thing to do, but if I do that, she'll be locked up and experimented on like some freak for the rest of her life," she said defensively as she pushed between the two them.
"And having her locked here is any better?" Dipper asked her as she walked past.
Mabel stalled as she watched Mina the Mastodon play with Soos some more. Wendy laughed along, and Mabel could only wonder if they could really keep the Mastodon happy. Then again... bringing this creature back from the dead, more than just Mina, could be...
She turned to her brother, and then looked between the two of them. "I'll... think about it," she told them quietly.
"Good to hear," Yuki nodded and patted Dipper's shoulder, "She can listen to reason when presented to her. I shall make back for the inside, and continue my work on refrigerator modulation."
"Uh, yeah, okay," Dipper nodded as Yuki trailed away back inside. "Mabel, just remember. She could be their salvation," Dipper repeated as he walked next to her.
"I heard," Mabel rolled her eyes.
"Oink?"
Mabel turned to the corner of the building, and saw half the image of small, pink pig poking his head out. Waddles had finally come to see the new visitor.
"Hey buddy," Mabel called, but Waddles held his ground, aware of the large beast on the front yard. "Aw, are you being a cute, shy, little piggster?" Mabel cooed as she walked over and lifted Waddles into her arms. "Let me introduce you to her. Okay?" she asked Waddles as she held him in her arms before her. The pig didn't struggle or disagree. He still seemed... nervous, but not afraid.
"Ahem," Mabel called between Soos's instructions of patty-cake with Mina, "Mina, I want you to meet a dear friend of mine," she said, and lifted Waddles before her, "This is Waddles!" Mina stared at the pink animal, and Waddles stared back. "He's really sweet, loves to cuddle, and is like the most easy-going person ever. You and him will totally get along."
Mina slowly extended her trunk to the pig, inch by inch in the air. She held her trunks end just a few inches from Waddles, perhaps afraid to greet the small animal as much as Waddles had been. Then, waddles pushed his head slightly forward and bumped noses. Mabel saw it alone. The looks of Waddles and Mina grew and stars exploded in their soul behind their dark, expressive eyes. Music was floating in their minds; Mabel could just hear it herself in her strange animal-sense. She gasped and stared as the trunk extended out and rubbed the chin of the pig excitedly, and Waddles oinked happily.
"Oh. My. God," Mabel gasped, happy tears in her eyes.
"Mabel?" Dipper asked as she squealed.
"They're in love!" Mabel laid down Waddles quickly and hugged her brother, "love at first sight! Oh my god, it's just perfect!" she yelled her hardest and started running in circles.
"I don't know Mabel," Wendy snickered but shook her head, "It's kinda hard to tell when animals-" Mina dispelled all doubt as she stepped closer, grasped waddles with her trunk, and lifted him into the air, and placed him atop her back, where he squealed happily, and took a comfortable seat there. "Oh," Wendy changed her mind immediately, "Okay. Yeah. They're in love."
"Dipper! DIPPER!" Mabel continued to run in circles around him as he stared in disbelief at the two animals, "I am the ultimate match-maker! Bow before me, love gods! BOW BEFORE YOUR NEW MASTER!" she cackled into the skies as Mina blew a loud and happy trumpet to match.
Mina with waddles sitting in a tree: K-I-S-S-I-N-G
So three episodes of kinda drama/intense stuff, we get some wonderfully silliness. I had you all fooled too, thought a Mammoth was going to be involved, huh? Well, GUESS AGAIN! MASTODON! GO 'MURICA! LOCAL EXTINCT SPECIES FOR THE WIN! WOOHOO!
So, with fun stuff aside, there should be some clues for the few of you who read this that get way, way into the 'secrets' of this story. Some are a tad more easy to detect, others? Not so much. Hopefully you spotted them. :D
And SPEAKING OF THINGS TO SPOT... I recently got way into re-watching the actual series. A marathon from episode one to Northwest Noir, and I realize that I was missing two things that the show does- a beginning segment, and... something else. So, with the beginning segment, that's not as important as it is goofy. But the important thing I've been missing-
Cryptograms.
Yeah. That's right. They're now included. At the end of every episode, I have a cryptogram for you to solve, and this includes ALL PAST EPISODES. Don't worry, they're not that hard to solve, and may give you some clues to what I'm planning. Or what fate awaits in the horizon... ;)
Now before I head off, Remember to check out my buddy, TheEquestrianIdiot2.0 and his works. I've been working really closely with him on a few of his projects, and then he's been blowing me out of the water with thing's he's been making. Especially check out '30 Days of Night' and 'Click and other Stories', to which I have had the pleasure of partaking in.
So, thanks for reading, and I'll see you guys next week. Adios! (A caveman jumps next to EZB, grabs his monitor from his computer, and swings it into his head, knocking the author out in one fell swoop. Then he roars triumphantly, and runs off into the sunset with his favorite new toy- EZB's monitor.)