"Hey Dipper?"
"Yeah?"
"You ever think back, and remember when things weren't so crazy?" Mabel asked him as she watched a crowd assorted of a family of six squeeze past them as they exited the gift shop. Dipper sighed easily and shook his head. "Me neither," Mabel grinned.
Mabel looked over from their spot in the gift shop. Not a slow day for a change, the shop was occupied by newcomers to the town. Many had heard of the crazy rumors about the wildlife and monsters. Thrill-seekers, would-be skeptics, and, much to Wendy's dismay, more amateur paranormal investigators, vied for tickets for the Mystery Manor, which bragged exclusive tips from the supposed 'Man of Mystery' himself, Stanley Pines. The hints usually involved vague and mysterious clues, inclining people to buy more of his merchandise. So far, it was a working machine of finance.
"Thanks; enjoy your day, dudes," Wendy called as she handed a bag to a small group of young couples, probably about twenty or so. As they left and the shop calmed for a moment, she sighed. "Man. Days like this make me miss going and doing stuff."
"What'chu talking about, Corduroy?" Mabel demanded, obtaining sass from the air itself. She grinned as she left Dipper to muse in his own thoughts, looking into his journal quietly. "I bet you have tons of time to go out and hang."
Wendy's gaze faltered. "Yeah. With who?" Wendy reminded them, leaning on the counter, "Most of my friends aren't too keen on hanging with me."
"But you're awesome," Mabel told her, patting her arm sympathetically.
"Eh, I don't know about that," Wendy rolled her eyes as she fought a grin.
"Wendy, maybe what we should do," Mabel suggested, and eyed her brother, holding her announcement. Dipper slowly became aware of the pause, and looked up. The glint in her eye told him exactly what she wanted to say, and he gasped, "A huge crazy date night!" Mabel announced, looking back to Wendy, shooting her arms high into the air.
"Oh, dude! That does sound awesome!" Wendy cheered.
Dipper laughed and left the wall. "C'mon guys," Dipper started, his cheeks struggling to hide a gently blush, "We really shouldn't call it a date. It's just us, hanging out together."
"Dipper," Mabel turned on him quickly, "We can't call something as awesome as this a 'hang out'," she mocked, dropping her voice to mock his words. She added, "This is us going out to do something freaking cool! Like... bowling! But with giant bouncy balls!"
"They have those?" Wendy asked.
"Nope. I just kind of thought we'd sneak them in and throw them at the pins like-" Mabel unleashed a bellowing cry. As she had, a trio of kids had started to step inside the Manor; but the moment she unleashed her war cry, they spun around and ran, whimpering in fear. Mabel, having not noticed, explained, "Just like that."
Dipper and Wendy started laughing, leaving Mabel oblivious to her course of distress to the now fleeing kids.
"Guys!" Soos suddenly called from deeper into the building. The three turned, but then someone called from outside the building.
"Guys!" Arline called as she rushed to the front door.
The two, calling, rushed into the gift shop at the same time, excitedly looking to the three by the counter, and opening their mouths to speak at the same time. Only then they spotted each other, and smiled.
"You first, Soos," Arline nodded to him.
"Oh, no, by all means," Soos waved to her, "Guest speaks first."
"What's in your hands?" Mabel asked, spotting something clutched in their grips. If there had been any hope of getting them to speak at the same time, that was the spark that exploded that hope. Fortunately, they said the same thing.
"I just got tickets for duskhope!" The exploding stereo boom that the two created shook the gift shop and the foundation. As they had started, the two paused and looked to one another. "You got tickets?" They again both asked.
Wendy gave them an appreciative smile. "Duskhope, huh? You're really into them still, Soos?" Wendy asked, eying the two of them, "Nice man."
"Aw, thanks Wendy," Soos said, and explained to the twins, "They're here tomorrow at the convention center!" Soos announced, "And it's going to be one of the coolest things to happen to Gravity Falls ever! Well, coolest that doesn't involve having it nearly destroyed, taken over by power-hungry triangles, or replaced by robots."
"Uh... that all happened?" Arline asked to the twins, who synchronously nodded. "Wow."
"So, you're going too?" Mabel asked her master. Arline shook her head. "Wait, then why so excited?" Mabel asked.
"Because you are!" Arline told them, approaching them and hand Mabel a manila envelope. "Look inside," she said, as Mabel pulled open the tab and into her hands three tickets identical to Soos' fell.
"What?!" Mabel gasped, and stared to her master in gaping shock.
"Why the heck would you give us these?" Dipper demanded, also in shock, but not to the point of speechlessness, "Aren't these like eighty dollars or whatever?"
"Won them for free. I don't even remember taking a survey or whatever," She admitted with a laugh, "I got them in the mail recently, and then – boom. Three. I don't really care for the band myself, but I figured I'd hand them off to you guys. Go wild," she added as she grinned.
Mabel screeched and lunged forward, grabbing onto her master's stomach and squeezing as tight as she could. Arline coughed, and laughed at Mabel's incoherent "Thanks You's" which piled atop one another like a bad record playing.
"Thanks so much, Arline," Dipper managed to say, eying the tickets with awe. "This is super cool."
"Pssh, don't worry about it," Arline waved her hand, "You guys could use a break. Maybe now that I've given you the tickets, you'll re-consider joining Mabel and me for training?" Arline said, eying him with a small twinkle in her eyes. Dipper blinked and gave a shy grin. Had this been a clever bribe just to get him in on the action? Dipper gave consideration to who it was bribing him, and he doubted it.
"Oh-my-god," Mabel blurted out, "This is it."
"Huh?" Dipper and Wendy said, turning to her as she held the tickets above her head.
"This is our super-amazing-mega-crazy-turbo date plan!" Mabel declared proudly, and turned to Soos, "And we can all go!" Mabel began to jump up and down in a circle, hopping around the room with boundless energy.
"Oh, yeah," Wendy smiled toothily, "That sounds cool. So, are they, like back row seats or whatever?" Wendy asked to Arline.
"Sounded more like standard mob actually," the martial artist admitted, "Somewhere between chaos and order, so everyone has a chance to jump as high as they can and see that pretty-boy lead-singer."
"Pretty boy?" Mabel's hopping came to a screeching halt and she turned to Arline.
Soos was the one to answer quicker though. "Yeah. Zander Maximillion," he said, "The guy isn't just a prodigy of all forms of music, but a great guy! He was supposed to go on 'Shallow Monthly's Top Fifty Hottest Men of the Year', but he doesn't like being put on cameras."
"Ohhh, this just keeps getting better and better," Mabel stomped the floor with machine gun-like legs, standing in place as her mind flew at a thousand miles per hour.
"Yeah!" Dipper nodded, "If we're lucky, this will be the first non-eventful show we go to at Gravity Falls," Dipper stated with a small chuckle. The others laughed with him.
"So, we all going?" Mabel asked, grabbing her brother by the shoulders as she wrapped her arms around him, "Cus this sounds like something we totally need to do."
"I'm in," Dipper shrugged.
"Totally in," Soos stated defiantly. The three turned to Wendy. Her expression was strange. As Dipper studied it briefly, she seemed excited. Or at least seemed excited.
"Uh, I'll have to check with, you know, family stuff," Wendy admitted, looking around the shop as she spoke, "You know- make sure my dad isn't planning anything crazy for the weekend."
"What?" Mabel said, her energy dropping. Dipper stared at the redhead; his eyes fixed on her.
"You were ready to go when we were planning a bowling trip," Dipper pointed out, and Wendy's gaze fixed onto him, "I thought you liked this sort of thing?" Dipper asked, frowning.
"Come with us, come with us," Mabel and Soos started chanting for Wendy. Dipper never let his eyes leave her, and she stared at him. Dipper could feel a sort of tension there, behind her gaze. It was like... she was holding up a poker face. Dipper wanted to ask if she was okay, but then she blinked and looked to the others.
"Okay, okay," Wendy broke the stare-off and smiled, "I'll go. I'm just being a little nervous- I'm rusty with mob crowds, you know?" she admitted. Soos and Mabel cheered loudly, and the brunette ran around and hugged the woman, only a few inches shorter than her.
Dipper continued to watch Wendy. She had, after the moment and a half of looking to Dipper relented and given in to the common desires of the rest of the group. Yet Dipper knew there was something else there – something buried inside her mind. He could tell by sheer experience; he had seen that look before in another person. He had seen it in Grunkle Stan.
Before they discovered the portal. Before they knew about his brother.
Like the devil himself summoning him, Grunkle Stan walked through the door, holding a large cardboard box. "And I can already tell something strange is going on," he stated, "When with the sudden boost of new customers my shop is empty. You scaring them away, Hirsh?" he demanded pointedly, glaring at the woman.
With a scowl and look at her friends, she took her cue to leave. "Anyway, you guys have fun! Tell me how awesome it was later!" she told them excitedly, and glanced back at Grunkle Stan, daring him to say anything else.
As she left, the old man sighed and shook his head. "When is she going to leave already," he grumbled as he walked into she room, hoisting the box slightly up his arms as he approached a shelf.
"Aw, c'mon Stan," Wendy stated, "She's fine."
"Yeah! What's your problem with my master?" Mabel demanded; her arms crossed angrily.
"My problem is that we could be having a family of ten come by, and I'm one room short with her slinking around here still," Grunkle Stan said to them, shoving away cheap products onto their corresponding shelves. "Besides, what did she want now? Trying to see if she can't ruin another business opportunity?"
"She gave us tickets to the coming concert tomorrow," Dipper explained plainly. Stan turned to look at them, a frown growing deeper in his face. "What?" Dipper asked the old man when he grumbled something under his breath and continued laying things around the Manor.
"Nothing. Go have fun or whatever you kids call going to a concert," Stan said grumpily.
"Ooh! A concert?" Yuki asked, poking his head through the door.
"You aren't going!" Stan turned to Yuki, who flinched and cowed in his shout.
"B-but that's another earth-based event I'd like to experience," he said with sad eyes.
"Well too bad. You got to go to the carnival earlier this week, so you can stay here and help me with the shop," Stan ordered him.
"But going to the carnival was helping the shop," Yuki protested.
"Can it, nerd!" Stan barked at him, "When you have enough of your own money for a ticket, you can go." Yuki bowed his head, and slowly slipped back inside the Manor, eying the four with envy. "As for you lot, you better make darn sure if you meet anyone important you let 'em know where you stay!" Stan demanded of them.
"Yeah, yeah, sure, shameless pandering, we got it," Dipper nodded, appeasing the older man. Mabel suddenly gasped, and grasped her brother. "Ack! What?" he demanded of her.
"I need to call Grenda and Candy – see if they want in on this!" Mabel gasped, and ran for the phone in the other room.
Wendy watched her go; her eyes widening. "Uh, I thought it would be just the four of us?" Wendy asked, pausing Mabel at the doorway, but she spun, still smiling.
"Don't worry Wendy. The girls like you," Mabel laughed, and vanished behind the wall, leaving the three to dwell on the exciting day in their future.
Saturday had come, and with it, the excitement balled up into an unstoppable Mabel-bouncing-ball. Dipper was excited too, almost allowing himself to be infected by his sister's antics of running around and around with no hope of stopping. It wasn't until getting into Dipper's car, as he had opted to pick everyone up, that Mabel could calm down enough to retain herself into once place. She wouldn't stay still though- bouncing up and down in the seat; actually bouncing the car up and down gently.
Wendy was easy to pick up- she had apparently walked from her house to the Manor, and was half way to the building when they had her join the crew. To Mabel's amazement, she was in different garb. Despite the hot day, she wore a black jacket and her hair had been tucked into her hat, giving her the appearance of a pixie cut. Mabel was quick to leave a small teasing comment, which Dipper did refute, giving Wendy his best, and to his pride, most subtle compliment to her appearances.
Soos was ready for them as they drove to his house. His usual wear had been entirely replaced with nothing but garb that belonged to the band. Duskhope t-shirt, Duskhope shoes, Duskhope socks, and he wanted to show them the Duskhope underwear, but the consensus was they would have to trust him on that one.
Then finally, they arrived at the massive convention center. The huge building had been used for all manners of bands, conventions, and snooty high-class events the twins had no interest in. They had seen the insanely thick crowds for Sev'ral Timez and all it's tween, immaculate attention. This crowd dwarfed it.
Too many cars to belong to Gravity Falls, and even possibly Oregon were here. The parking lot extended into a nearby meadow, to where Dipper had to park. Noon had just come, and already people were rushing past them eager to get inside.
"Ohhh man," Mabel chattered her teeth as she stepped out, "I'm going into hyper-mode!"
"You weren't in hyper-mode earlier?" Dipper asked, somewhat fearful of the turn of events. Mabel shook her head so fast and with such vigor he was afraid she would rip her neck clean off. "Wow. Okay. Chill."
"Can't. Too much... energy..." Mabel blurted out with as she attempted to withhold her power.
"Well save that energy dude," Soos told them, "Duskhope is a total scream-fest. They love it when people shout, sing, or yell the lyrics with them. Or shouting in general – they like audience participation."
"These people will love–" Mabel held herself down, and coughed, "Ahem. These people will love me."
"Okay, let's get inside," Wendy said, looking around the parking lot, "It's kind of hot out here."
"Then put your jacket inside, dude," Dipper laughed, but Wendy shrugged.
"Can't man. This is my, uh, official mob-jacket. I wear it to these sorts of things," she told him with a complacent grin. Dipper shrugged, but studied her, and realized she wasn't sweating yet.
"Onward?" Soos asked.
"Charge!" Mabel roared and bolted off, knocking over man stepping out of a car from California.
The three slowly caught up with Mabel, who had been jogging in place at the ticket stand, waiting for them. Passing by the man, who was eternally distressed with the line that seemed to wrap around the entire massive building, they made it inside. The collector eyed each of their tickets, tearing off a tag and letting them pass by. It wasn't until they were inside that they found themselves stunned.
The stage was constructed like a huge mountain top. The edge of the stage seemed to be rock and vines, and the sides were large redwood like trees, with the top of the stage being the canopy. They had stepped inside just to meet the image they had constantly seen when they step outside of the Mystery Manor. There was, much to Dipper and Mabel's shock, a whole orchestra set up past the stage, in a roped off section, warming up and conversing with themselves.
"Yeah dude," Soos answered them as they asked him about it, moving closer inside, "Whenever they perform, they get the best local orchestra and choir to help out with their music."
"What?" Wendy asked, shock and amusement etched in her grin, "These guys are that rich?"
"When it comes to symphonic-operatic-epic-metal," Soos established, "There is no higher band than them."
"Jeesh," Wendy hissed, looking around, "And they have seats too?"
"Yeah. Just in case older people come in, I guess," Soos shrugged.
Finding a spot was a quick endeavor. There was a very thick crowd already gathering at the 'rock outcove' before the orchestra, and so they took the cue to stand just behind them putting them in easy sight distance from the stage, nor far enough to crane their necks. But their comfortable position was soon compromised. More, and more people flooded in. Kids their age, young adults, and even middle-aged folk came cramming in. Soon Dipper was feeling the claustrophobia of being a sardine in a can. Somehow, a manly, bellowing cry emerged as a large woman and a thin, frail girl appeared and tackled Mabel. Grenda and Candy had found Mabel.
"Isn't this the coolest!?" Mabel demanded as they stopped their hugging.
"Only the craziest even of the Year!" Grenda roared, "Oh, oh I'm so pumped. I could just break something!"
"Grenda and I have been busy memorizing the lyrics to all their songs, so we don't get left behind," Candy told Mabel.
"Wait, they do sing-alongs?" Mabel asked, and quickly turned to Dipper, "Dude, they do sing-alongs."
"They don't mind it when people sing with them," Soos answered loudly, proudly puffing his chest out as he exemplified his knowledge of the group. "Hey dudes," he waved to Grenda and Candy, who waved back.
"Wassup?" Grenda asked.
"Hi again Wendy," Candy waved to Wendy, who had been looking in their opposite direction the entire time.
Slowly she turned, her eyes wide as she smiled. "Hi. How are you?" she asked in very stiff tones.
"Pretty good. I ran into your dad the other day," Candy told her, "Actually, I think he ran into me. Ran over me. I was on the floor after I woke up, I think."
Wendy snorted and nodded to her. "That sounds like my dad," she grinned, "He say anything to you? About me?"
"He made some animal noises," Candy told her, adjusting her glasses, "Sort of like a bear?"
"That would be a no," Wendy nodded, and turned away.
"Guys, this is so crazy exciting!" Mabel said, leaping into the air for a single jump, "The energy here is just infecting me! It's like the people here are just... awesomely radiating power!"
"They could use some powerful deodorant," Dipper mentioned.
"Ahh, the musk of a crowd," Soos mentioned to them, "It's all part of the identity of these crowds. Sort of how like you can always tell when an alternative band played recently by the amount of organic snack wrappers are on the ground."
The lights above began to dim, and the crowd got louder. People were shrieking and shouting out, calling out the name 'Duskhope' like a religious chant. Dipper and Mabel looked over next to them, and Soos began to join the chant, lost to the sway. It was so strange, so many people attentively awaiting the arrival of the members. Even Grenda and Candy quickly caught onto the chant, leaving the twins to watch in amusement.
New lights cast on the stage. Oranges rays, like the shine of the sun itself, cast down onto the stage and the orchestra piped up a loud, dramatic tune. It wasn't something mundane- it was classical and powerful. Dipper and Mabel listened, now avidly watching the stage and anticipation. It was like a port of nature itself. Then, from behind the stage, a stand was pushed out. The drummer, a heavily tanned man with spikey black hair waved to the crowd as he stood on the stand, holding aside his two drumsticks.
As he emerged with his entire large set, opposite to him, on the left side of the stage, a similar platform emerged, this time of a massive electronic keyboard. A pale man with goggles and short brown hair pumped his fist into the air. As those two were settled, two figures from either side stepped out, one holding an electronic guitar, and the other holding a bass guitar. Each of these members had a microphone on their uniform, which was a strange mix of leather jacket and barbarian like pelts. The electric guitar hold, who Dipper was sure he recognized with a large nose and pointed face, struck a tune, and the audience cheered.
Before another chord was strung, a choir, seemingly from nowhere and nothingness, sang up. As the voices rose up and began to chant a dim, low language, the keyboardist, drummer, and entire orchestra joined in. It was a dramatic build, the beat growing louder and louder.
"Oh! Ohh!" Soos roared with the crowd, "Yes! Gaiatale!"
"What?" Dipper tried asking, entirely drowned out to all but his sister, who grabbed his shirt, "What, Mabel?" he demanded.
"This is soo intense," she told him.
"This is a really good one," Candy assured them.
The music hit a crescendo, and from behind the stage, in the trees, as the guitarist and bassist joined simultaneously, a figure leapt out, easily fifteen feet in the air and flipped out onto the stage. His landing was heralded by a blast of cheers. He held no instrument, wore a large hat which hid his face, and stood up, tossing the hat away. Blond hair fell to his shoulders, elegant and free-flowing. Calling him a pretty boy was no joke- he had a beautiful jaw line and just the right amount of cheeks to be seen as cheery. Quickly standing up in the same beat as landing, he extended his hand to the side. Without even looking, he caught a single microphone, which had dropped from the ceiling into his hands.
"Dang," Dipper gasped, already impressed with their opening. The man, rocking his head along with the heavy beat of his band, stepped closer and closer to the edge until he was as close as he could be to the edge, and then whipped the microphone to be before him.
Finally, Zander Maximillion, lead singer of the band Duskhope, sang.
"How dark it was before,
Could you peer the veil,
Lost dreams, and hopes,
but wishes
When all of earthly light
Caressed your skin and marrow
Lift you high into a champions readied soul!"
His voice wasn't deep- on the contrary, it was a higher pitched vibrato, resting peacefully between tenor and baritone. Yet his presence on stage almost... commanded Dipper. Any regards to his self-conscious were swept away as the man rocked along with the beat, singing his soul out.
"The flame of passions fire,
Light up with all the world,
Contained of our own tempered wills,
Rock and stone do last,
Outpace all of time,
Bones but break and yet we shall endure!"
"Hubba-hubba," Grenda growled aloud as she watched the man perform, "Talk about pretty boy!"
Mabel was awe-struck. The man wasn't pretty. He was gorgeous. Young, but older than her by probably a few years, this man had a chiseled and well-kept body, exposed by his opened jacket while he wore no shirt underneath. She was utterly entranced by his rhythmic bouncing to the beat. She couldn't even rock with the crowd, who all lifted their hands and punched the air with the rhythm. She just stood there, staring at him.
So then the main chorus came, and the twins were blown away as the guitarist and bassist sang along with the leader vocalist.
"We are the children of the stars and sun,
The youngest seekers of each horizon,
With our own hands we can be undone!
Our ancient mother fear does warn to try,
Change our future till our tears do dry,
Or page that written bodes not well,
Of our future we shall say farewell!"
"Wow! These guys really do kick some serious-" Dipper started, but the cheers after the main chorus drowned out his compliment. He had turned to his sister, but found her awe-struck, motionlessly staring up at the main singer. He, in his small break between the main chorus and the next bit, was bumping knuckles with his other members.
"We are the makers,
The one destroyers,
With power untold That will make you fear true,
Darkness finds all the way,
But deceives until the time,
strengthen, still your mind,
Until courage root you stand!"
"Wind to fly and soar,
Glide afar and more,
Untouched to go,
For freedom all is yours,
Water seeks a path,
Knowledge far from wrath,
Unmolded makes you Know not break nor broke!"
"You guys liking it so far!?" Soos demanded down, calling next to him over the rumble of the crowds.
"Heck yes!" Dipper cheered, entirely consumed by the energy of the band.
"This is much better than the internet vidoes," Candy admitted, barely heard over the loud crowds.
Mabel couldn't detect them. She was in another universe. Everything she saw was slowed down as she watched this man sing, his eyes closing and opening with various words as he sung with every fiber of his being. There was a passion as he sung that shot right into her soul. Then the main chorus returned, as the guitarist and bassist joined with Zander Maximillion.
"We are the children of the stars and sun,
The youngest seekers of each horizon,
With our own hands we can be undone!
Our ancient mother fear does warn to try,
Change our future till our tears do dry,
Or page that written bodes not well,
Of our future we shall say farewell!"
"He's amazing..." Mable mumbled.
"They're amazing!" Dipper clapped his sister's arm in agreement.
"We are the children of the stars and sun,
The youngest seekers of each horizon,
Bind together we cannot be culled!"
The half-measure ended, and the choir finally appeared, disguised behind the trees in the background. The song had reached a quieter moment, with the keyboardist hitting higher, softer notes than the previous section of the songs. Zander Maximillion raised his head from his notes and grinned.
"We've got something special for you guys," he grinned, pointing behind himself to a lowering screen, and projector somewhere above the crowds flickered on, "Something just for you all here."
"Oh, please just take your jacket off!" Grenda pleaded under her breath.
The crowd screamed in approval at his words. Mabel almost felt her body melt as his words. That voice, despite his screaming and impressive singing, was soft, warm, and entirely welcoming. It was like he emitted a verbal warm blanket, and Mabel felt herself swoop inside it entirely, wrapping herself in it effortlessly.
The choir and orchestra now joined forces with all but Zander, who stood at the end of the stage clapping pointedly, engaging the crowd to clap along with the beat. The projector began to play as the music played on. A film began to play. The film showed a crew of firemen, desperately climbing through a burning building, forcing their way through the embers and wreckage to save, as the film showed, a trapped family of four. The father was desperately trying his best to subdue the flames, but they grew around them. The music swelled as the firefighters arrived, getting the kids and mother out first, but the dad seemed trapped as a rooftop support beam fell between him and the last firefighter, trapping him in his room.
Yet the break for the singers was not over. The firefighter, despite warnings from his suit measurements and the calls for the father to go on without him, would not abandon him. He retrieved his axe and chopped away at the column throwing embers into the air. The beat grew louder and louder as the father leapt over the gain distance, and climbed through. The video ended just as the two escaped the collapsing building and the music swelled to an explosion of grace.
"We are the children of the stars and sun,
The youngest seekers of each horizon,
With our own hands we can be undone!
Our ancient mother fear does warn to try,
Change our future till our tears do dry,
Or page that written bodes not well,
Of our future we shall say farewell!"
They sang again, now all five of the members giving their pieces. Yet they were not done. For one last time, they sang the power-fused song.
"We are the children of the stars and sun,
The youngest seekers of each horizon,
With our own hands we can be undone!
Our ancient mother fear does warn to try,
Change our future till our tears do dry,
Or page that written bodes not well,
Of our future we shall say farewell!"
Zander Maximillion was out of lyrics, but did not let that stop his singing. He joined the choir, singing that strange nonsense language that only music could make sense of until the song fused into one final blast of triumphant booms.
"YEEAAAH!" Dipper and Soos roared with the crowds, jumping into the air with such energy, Dipper finally understood what it was like to be Mabel when excited.
"Okay, I'll admit," Wendy said, her smile from ear to ear, "That was crazy."
"Crazy doesn't come close! That was awesome!" Grenda shouted.
"I'm so excited, I can't tell if I'm deaf in one ear!" Candy told Grenda, who laughed and punched her jokingly in the arm, knocking her into Dipper. "Oh, thanks, Dipper."
"No problem! Mabel, Mabel!" Dipper called, grasping her shoulder, shaking her with a wide smile, brimming with energy. Yet shaking her, he saw only a limp girl who's hazed eyes stared ahead, following the paces of the lead singer, who was laughing and waving to the crowd. "Hey," Dipper tried again, this time catching his sister's attention, "You okay?"
Mabel didn't know how to respond. There was such a flutter in her stomach. It had been a strange dream watching the man perform and roar with that power that she had forgotten where she was for a time. With a quick look around, she suddenly realized where she was again and blinked a few times.
"Yeah!" she nodded with a small grin, "I'm good!"
From the stage, the lead singer called out. "Hello, Gravity Falls!" Zander Maximillion shouted over the microphone, prompting a huge reply from the crowds.
"Hi handsome!" Grenda roared back.
He leant back, pretending to resist the pure power of the crowd, and he smiled. "Wow. Talk about a warm welcome."
Someone shouted from the crowd, and Zander laughed, covering his face. A woman had just given him a rather personal, scandalous, suggestive offer. He walked away, laughing as he held his face in his hand. The keyboardist laughed as the guitarist rolled his eyes and groaned.
"I think I ran into that one, didn't I?" he returned to the edge as he shook his head, "I meant luke-warm, not burning hot." he told her and the crowd cheered loudly. "But speaking of welcomes, we have one to do," he told the crowd in a more authoritative voice, yet not losing that charming, warm smile he had worn most of the performance, "So, as you glorious followers of Duskhope know, we said goodbye recently to our long-time guitarist, Allen," he told them, waiting for anything other than a collective murmur of a response. When none came, he continued.
"Well, when we started this tour, we wanted to end it here, specifically in Gravity Falls. See," he started moving to the right, where the hat-wearing new guitarist stood, watching him, "Duskhope stole someone from your town. I'm talking about our new member, whom we have lovingly called 'Vee'."
Wendy jolted. "Wait... No way," Wendy gasped loudly, pushing herself higher, using Soos as a platform.
"Ow! Wendy, chill!" Soos demanded as she shoved herself higher.
"Who's 'Vee'?" Dipper asked to Soos.
"He's their newest guitarist. Pretty good. Supposedly, Zander has been teaching him for a while, and now he's stepping up to the plate. They never released his actual name though," Soos told them, a growing excitement in his eyes, "Gosh, this is going to be so cool."
"A few of you probably know this guy. Guitarist, sick dude, and local of the area," Zander turned to the crowd, and roared in his announcement, "Welcome back, ROBBIE VALENTINO!"
"WHAT!?" The twins and Soos gasped.
The crowd roared of approval as the guitarist removed the wide-brimmed hat, and revealed himself. Those zits had long gone, the overly-dark eyeliner missing, and his hair was thicker, but it was certainly the same man. He sheepishly raised his hand and waved at the crowd, bobbing his head in a mild nod to them all.
"He got into a band like this!?" Dipper gasped, turning to Soos and Wendy, "Are you kidding me?! He wasn't that good!"
"It doesn't matter how good you are," Wendy told him, "If you're still the best out of a lot of losers, you're still the best pick."
Zander Maximillion was thrilled with the response. "Yeah! So, Gravity Falls, since we're now practically family," Zander stepped closer to the edge of the stage, and adopted a sincere face, "Can we crash on your couch tonight?" he asked. He blinked and stepped back; the blast of approval from the females closest to him was nearly sonic.
"I hope that wasn't a joke," Candy begged, crossing her fingers.
"Wow! Hah!" he laughed, "Anyway, we have a show to get going. Hey Robbie?" Robbie turned to him, looking at his band leader with wide, surprised eyes. Zander stared at him expectantly, his mouth open in a half-smile. "You gonna answer, buddy?" Zander asked, laughing at Robbies hesitation.
"What?" Robbie asked, barely heard from the stage.
The Bassist leaned into his own microphone. "Use the mic, dummy," the bassist told him, speaking clearly into his own, which caused a loud roar of laughter. The guitarist glared at him, blushing and looking to Zander, who had laughed slightly with the crowds.
"What, dude?" Robbie Valentino asked.
"You know, this is your first time in a few years coming home, isn't it?" Zander asked him, to which Robbie shrugged. Zander said, "So, I was thinking you'd get to pick the next song."
"Oh. Cool," Robbie nodded and gave him some thought. People were calling out to him, demanding various different names. Yet he grinned and said to Zander, "I think we do a wicked 'Bright Case of Wishes'." Just by saying this, the crowd received a huge jolt of energy, and more people shouted and screamed.
"You heard it all!" Zander turned, and the choir and orchestra began to play again, and Zander screamed, "BRIIIIGHT CASE OF WIIISHEESS!"
What followed for nearly an hour and a half was song after song of epic proportions. Dipper felt like this was straight out of a movie, and he bounced the energy back and forth with Soos. To his amazement between the songs, ranging from "I Wish I Had Angel-Wings", a fast beat with a crazy drum solo, to the "First Charge of The Battle" entirely fit to a huge cavalry charge, the two ladies with them seemed... muted.
Between the songs, Mabel would 'unlock' and speak to Dipper, agreeing with him on the awesomeness of the band and the song they just did. Even when he got a little too analytical and began to explain the significance of their songs, ranging from referencing historical events to myths and legends, she seemed only capable of nodding and mildly replying. She was in a strange trance, and Dipper worried for her. Maybe crowds like this got to her somehow.
Wendy, since Robbie's appearance, had almost gone stoic. She barely moved, and whenever she did, it was because someone bumped into her while they jumped up and down into the air along with the beat of the song. Her eyes no longer were glued to the performance, but instead looked around occasionally, scanning the horizon of moving bodies around her. Dipper constantly wondered what she was looking for between the breaks of songs.
After what Dipper was certain had been three songs, but Soos assured him was one massive song called 'Spirit Heart Song'; the finale ended. That last piece, which seemed to force the entirety of the performance to go at its best, with the band members sweating a storm, the orchestra feverishly playing their best, and the choir keeping in pace with Zander, who was the only one not sweating a torrential downpour, was easily the most impressive of the ten songs they had done. Zander gave one final roar to the crowds as the music ended, and the crowds screamed and shouted.
"Aww, yeah!" Zander pumped his fists into the air, showing off his chiseled body. "That's it guys! That's it... for today," he added with a sinister look around the crowd, fighting to suppress a smile as the crowds roared at him. Finally, he laughed again, and hopped around, while talking into the microphone, "That's right – we have one more special performance tomorrow! If you bought your tickets today, you can come again! Awesome, huh!?"
The audience certainly thought so. Dipper and Soos gasped and cheered loudly, but they were drowned out and shocked when Mabel shoved her hands into the air and bellowed "Yes!"
To her shock, Zander looked straight at her and grinned. "I love the enthusiasm!" he shouted at her across the crowds. Mabel, thankfully in the shadows, was able to hide her furiously blushing cheeks. Zander continued, "But speaking of tickets..." the crowd began to grown louder yet again, possibly aware of what he was about to say, "Ohhh, you know what's coming," Zander nodded as he looked around, "We have a little special present to a lucky ticket holder. But, but," he added dramatically, holding his hand to the sky, "We're not doing just one today, but two. Two people get a chance to hang out with us after the show!"
"Candy! This is our chance!" Grenda called to her, and Candy nodded feverishly.
"OH SWEET!" Soos roared, and pulled out his ticket. He wasn't the only one. Suddenly those who Dipper would have deemed the 'most hardcore of fans' were quickly scrambling for their tickets, desperate to pull out their own. Dipper followed suit, and as he turned to remind Mabel to do so, he found her already scanning her ticket.
"Okay, so here's the two numbers we'll be looking for," Zander grinned, and looked around the crowd, letting the anticipation build. Not only was he clearly a good singer, Dipper realized, but he worked a crowd perfectly. "First, two-five-six-five-four," he called.
One number at a time, Dipper felt like he had just been struck by lightning. Each number got closer and closer to the winning combination. Then, with a slow realization as he scanned the numbers again, he blinked and gaped. Those numbers were right on his card, staring up at him. He... he had the lucky ticket? Before he could respond, he heard Zander call out again.
"And the second is two-five-six-five-five," he said aloud, looking around.
If Dipper had any qualms about making noise, his sister didn't. She let out a blood thirsty, earth trembling, ear splitting boom of a cry that had Dipper flinch and look to her. Mabel had, oh so clearly, also won. Their tickets were only one number off.
"Wow, that was quick," Zander laughed, watching the twins dance up and down excitedly, "So you guys," he pointed to them directly, his sparkling, green eyes catching their attention, "Feel free at the end of the show to come around to the backstage. Just show off those tickets and the crew will let you in. And for the rest of you, remember: there will always be another day!" he declared proudly, and added as the choir slid away into the stage again and the band members started to recede away, "Thank you all!"
"Dudes!" Soos turned and scooped up both twins in one huge grasp as the crowds applauded as the final member left the stage, "You guys get the most impossibly crazy cool privilege since shaking hands with a president!"
"Gah! Soos!" Dipper coughed and gasped for air while seeing the crowd from nearly a bird's eye view. "Down!"
"You two are the luckiest duo in eternity," Candy said with a sad, but content grin.
"Ah, man, I wish I was as lucky as you two," Soos admitted, "You two are going to meet the greatest rock band since... the last greatest rock band!"
"I thought they were metal?" Wendy asked, coming around to face the twins. She quickly noticed Mabel, who's mouth still hung open as she and Dipper were placed down. "Mabel," Wendy started, "You good?"
"Just, uh... yeah," Mabel nodded in a daze.
"Ha, okay," Wendy shook her head as she grinned, "Well Soos, I think we're on our own getting home now," Wendy admitted.
"Huh?" Dipper looked to her, blinking in his confusion, "But I can still drive everyone back."
"Nah man," Wendy waved her hand to the twins, "We wouldn't want to distract you guys from your chance to chill with 'the amazing Duskhope', would we?" she asked to Soos.
He gasped and nodded. "You are soo right!" Soos looked to the twins, "This is a privilege that you two totally need to take! I guess we can walk to our homes," Soos shrugged.
"Aww, it wouldn't take-" Dipper stated, but Wendy had already started pushing Soos away, almost forcibly.
"No way dude," Wendy said as she passed, and waved to her confused friend, "You two have fun!"
Grenda called, "Just remember to take as many pictures of his chest as you can!" as Candy and her followed the two out.
Dipper merely watched as Wendy, Soos, and Mabel's friends melded into the crowds, still slowly dissipating, and he pondered again. Wendy wasn't someone who shied from crowds, but she had been out of her element here. Then again, Robbie had been here the entire time, on stage, being called to by various women and men like a hero. Maybe that put her down.
"Well," Dipper sighed, the crowds now sparse enough to walk without having to squeeze past groups of people, "I guess we should go claim our reward."
"W-what?!" Mabel gasped, and spun to him, her cheeks red. Dipper laughed, and she blinked, "Wait, what did you say?"
"Claim our reward?" he re-told her. Mabel sighed, her brown hair falling in bangs past her face. "What is up Mabel?" Dipper demanded, his smile containing mild worry for his sister, "You didn't get sick here, did you?" he asked her worriedly, but she rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"I was, just, uh, taking a little off-guard by what's-his-face," Mabel said, dangling an arm to the stage dismissively.
"Robbie?" Dipper nodded, "Yeah. That's still kind of weird. Jerk like him getting to be with such a cool band-"
"I didn't mean Robbie," Mabel cut him off, a mild flush in her cheeks.
"Then who?" He asked. Dipper gave her the moment to reply, yet she said nothing. "Ooookay... let's get going?"
"Yeah, let's," Mabel nodded, still in her strange daze.
Parting their way through the crowd by going directly to the far wall and nearly hugging it to the stage, the twins found themselves beset by a pair of large, muscular guards. There was only a brief, frightening moment as they stared down to the twins, but let the pass as they lifted up their tickets with wiry smiles. With a single worried glance between each other, they stepped onto the stage, and peered around the curtains.
"Wow, look at all of this stuff," Dipper gasped as they passed around the fabric. Tons of lighting equipment, speakers, extra microphones, and even wracks of clothing matching that of those worn by the band members cluttered the backstage. People were still patrolling around, speaking into headsets as they moved around props and materials without a glance to Dipper and Mabel.
"This is cool," Mabel admitted, letting a frantic looking woman pass by her and Dipper, holding a thin black scarf, "Like a human-sized ant nest, but with coffee instead of little grubs!"
"What do you think they need all these speakers for?" Dipper asked, looking to the large pieces of equipment that easily matched him in size.
"Extras?" Mabel suggested simply.
"I guess so. I didn't think this would be like a Broadway show or movie set back here," he admitted, "They sure know how to hide the secrets of the business back here."
"Well, it is show business," Mabel reminded him, "They probably have tons of secrets. Like what level of lighting to use to make them as gorgeous as they were," she added, closing her eyes as she day-dreamed back to the lead singer.
"That's Robbie you're talking about," Dipper shook his head as poked a large panel of buttons and knobs.
"I'm not talking about Robbie!" Mabel declared, but then gave him a trying look, "And even if I was, I don't see what the problem would be. We like Robbie."
"You like Robbie," Dipper glanced to her with a scowl, "I do not."
"What? Why?"
"Cus he's a self-entitled, self-absorbed, selfish jerk," he told her easily, and turned to the rack of clothing as someone quietly approached the other side.
Mabel peered at him, suspicion drawing her to a simple conclusion. "This is about him liking Wendy once, isn't it?" Mabel asked. He spun angrily, and she added, "It is."
"He was rude to her, and I remember that. What makes you think he's changed at all since then?" Dipper demanded, "Probably only is tolerated by the band because he looks the type."
"Dipper-"
"What kind of band needs twenty copies of the same jacket?" Dipper pointedly asked. "I mean, is this normal for a band?"
"Maybe they're actually werewolves too," Mabel said, approaching the wrack, feeling one of the jackets, "And each time they transform they use of their performing sets, so it gives them an excuse to get more?" she tried, her brother eyeing her with concern the entire time. "What? It could happen."
"I've heard of crazier theories about the band before," someone said on the other side of the clothes. The two paused as a staff member came from the side and pushed away the rack, only to reveal the speaker, Zander Maximillion. He stood there, hands in his jeans pockets as he looked to the two of them. "And personally, I think were-lizard would be cooler. Think about all those scales and spikes that would appear on your back. You'd look like Godzilla and stuff!"
Dipper and Mabel stared up to the man. He was much taller than they had imagined. Clearly six feet by a few inches, the man had broad shoulders for his size. His eyes glinted in the dimmed light, rich, bright green eyes looking at them. He smiled, clearly pleased with their gaping reaction to his appearance. He started chuckling and took two steps closer, and held out his hand.
"I'm Zander," he told Dipper.
"D-Dipper Pines," he managed to mumble as he took the hands belonging to this god figure of music.
"Good to meet you," Zander grinned and turned his hand to Mabel. She simply continued to stand, staring up at him with wide, lost eyes. "You okay?" he asked after a moment. Mabel let out the smallest shriek, as if she had been a mouse whose tail had been trodden on.
"Mabel!" she declared, "I'm Mabel!"
"Nice," he winked to her, almost causing Mabel to go dizzy. "Siblings?" he asked, and got a nod from the two, "Cool! Twins?" Another nod from Dipper, as Mabel had reverted to staring, and Dipper nudged her shoulder.
"Yeah! We're twins! Like crazy almost identical except that we're not the same gender! Ha-ha!" Mabel stumbled through her words as she looked up to the younger man, who grinned and nodded.
"Double cool. Well, nice you guys could join us on the stage. The guys are still in the trailer, but we can go check them out if you'd like?" he stated.
"We can just stay here!" Mabel begged suddenly, getting the scornful glare from his brother and a confused glance from Zander. "I mean... sure, we can go meet... other people..."
"Well, okay!" Zander nodded, "Follow me."
"Mister Maximillion," Dipper started as he and his sister continued after the man as he turned away and marched off the stage, "We just wanted to let you know how much of a crazy experience that was!"
"Ugh, don't call me mister, man," Zander turned as he walked, now side stepping away, "It makes me feel really old."
"Oh- but what-"
"Just Zander," the rock-star told him and his sister with that trademark grin.
"Well, okay," Dipper agreed, and continued with his thoughts, "I also wanted to ask; what was the deal with Gaiatale?" Dipper asked, giving pause to Zander, who turned and watched him. Dipper suddenly felt flushed – that had been a very blunt remark. "I-I mean, ahem, what I wanted to really ask is what it was about?"
"It's a story about us," Zander told him firmly, and Dipper's neck felt cold sweat. That was, at least until Zander broke into his wide smile and laughed. "Oh man, you guys are way, waaay to scared of me!" he told them, and walked over, wrapping a hand around them as he bent down slightly, "Look, I'm just another dude. I just so happen to make money making music. So, we're not that different, are we?"
"You happen to make a lot, lot, lot of money," Mabel remarked, and then she noticed that same dark scarf dangling from his neck, "And nice... scarf," she muttered.
He blinked, and looked down. "Oh! Thanks! I made it ages ago," he told her with a grin, "Nice and almost-glittery, isn't it?" he asked, "Dudes need ways to accessorize that are clearly masculine, and scarves are the perfect way to do that. Oh – and hats like that, man," Zander approved of Dipper's beanie, who grinned widely.
"Thanks!"
"Anyway," Zander started walking backwards, avoiding and deftly evading working staff as he retreated, never once turning around to see if they were there, "Gaiatale is really about human-kind. Duskhope doesn't really like just making music – we want a story."
"So, the story is about a warning?" Mabel interjected, causing Zander to laugh and nod.
"Exactly! We're losing out connection with what we really are. The elements that make us up, that put humans on the map, and these days people are more interested in here and now than the past and future," Zander said sadly, shaking his head as he finally turned and pushed out the door that led outside into the sun.
"That explains all the stuff about fire and water," Dipper nodded, "And you just, uh, were inspired by... what?"
"Inspired?" Zander turned from them as he stepped into the sun. The man squinted and looked into the sky, giving his response a moment to collect, "I guess a dream."
"It's pretty cool," Mabel told him, "You know, using elements like that."
"Pfft. Not as cool as the person who was here a few weeks ago who could shoot fire from her hands!" Zander told them excitedly, "I mean, are you kidding me!? I always kind of figured magic like that may exist, but for an internet video to go viral like that? And a giant spider?!"
"You saw that?" Dipper asked.
"Saw it!? It's one of the reasons Duskhope is here!" he proclaimed as he turned and marched over to the trailer. Dipper and Mabel exchanged a look of surprise and followed.
"You think he knows about the paths, Mabel?" Dipper asked his sister with hushed tones as she stared at his back. The man was leading around a series of large eighteen-wheeler trucks and other various vehicles towards a well decorated and expertly painted living RV with the words 'Duskhope' along the side.
"Only a few people in the world should know about that sort of thing," Mabel stated, "And it wasn't like his song really said anything specific. It was mostly just references to nature and the elements themselves. It wasn't like he knew about the training process or something."
"Here we are," Zander stated proudly, pushing the door to the trailer open, "The rest of the gang."
Zander stepped in first, beckoning the other two to follow inside. As he climbed the stairs leading up into the large and clearly luxury vehicle, the two gasped. Inside was akin to what Dipper assumed would be heavy. Rows of soda fountains were prevailed by many clean cups and two sinks on either side of the vehicle. By the corners of the roof, panels of TV's flashed and blinked with various intent. By couches opposite to the televisions, two men sat, grasping controllers and desperately mashing buttons.
"Welcome to the cove of solace," Zander said to the twins as they finally stepped inside. As he said it, one of the two on the couch swore loudly, and dropped the controller, "Well, okay, almost solace," Zander corrected himself.
"Hey dude," the loser of whatever game he had been played said, "Oh, the winners for this tour?" he asked, looking to the twins. Dark tan skin and thick naturally spiky hair told the twins that this was the drummer. He got up, and extended a hand across the line of sight of his opponent. "I'm Marcus," the drummer announced with a smile, shaking their hands.
"Dipper."
"I'm Mabel."
"Hey dudes," the winner of the game stated, turning to them as he placed the controller down with pride, "I'm Bishop." The twins shook hands with him as well. Standing across from the twins and the two sitting was the keyboardist, his goggles hanging around his neck.
"Sup. I'm Kane," he told them, winking to the two of them.
"And now we're just waiting and dweeb to get out from washing his face," Marcus told Zander as he leaned back into the couch. Zander sighed and nodded.
"Dweeb?" Dipper asked, looking around. One of three present doors at the back of the single hallway opened, and out stepped a dark haired, tired looking man with a large nose and dark eyes. "Oh. I see what you mean."
"Robbie!" Zander called, catching the attention of the guitarist, "Say hi to the winners." Robbie looked down and his eyes grew wide. Should there had been a polar opposite to Pacifica's initial reaction to seeing the twins again, Robbie Valentino's would have been that opposite, he squeezed around Kane, and cleared his throat.
"Sup, twins," Robbie nodded. Zander grunted and nodded to Robbie, who sighed and extended his hand.
"Hi Robbie!" Mabel gasp and pulled the un-expecting man into a bear-hug with her.
"Ow! Hey!"
"It's been three years!" Mabel told him, lowering him back down to the ground as his fellow band-mates chuckled at him. "How have you been?! I can't believe you got into such a cool position here!" Mabel told him, "It must be so cool! You're finally making music you're proud of!"
The band members laughed at her comment, and Robbies face went dark red, glaring to the others.
"She really does know you!" Marcus roared as he leaned into the couch, slipping partially to the floor.
"That's perfect!" Bishop added.
"Did I say something funny?" Mabel asked to Zander.
He chuckled. "Robbie's still fresh with us. The guys like teasing him, but it's all good," he explained as Robbie scowled angrily.
"Oh, yeah sure, all good," Robbie retorted, and replied to the laughs behind him with a large and very rude hand gesture. The three men all gasped and 'ooooh'd' at him, but continued their snickering, unperturbed by his actions. Robbie looked back, and found Dipper looked up at him. "You got taller."
"So did you," Dipper commented, his mouth refusing to open all the way.
"What are you even doing back in Gravity Falls?" Robbie demanded, "You two don't live here."
"We're back for another summer!" Mabel declared, "For the romance of adventure, and the adventure of romance!"
Robbie groaned and looked to his boss. "Great. So, not trying to smack down these kids or whatever, but these two kind of cause trouble, so we should make this tour or whatever quick."
"What!?" Mabel and Dipper gasped.
Zander laughed and walked around the twins, putting a hand around Robbie's shoulder. "Hahaha, one second you two," Zander said, pulling Robbie away. As the two walked to the end of the bus, the three stared quietly at them shaking their heads.
"Idiot needs to figure that out," Bishop mumbled as looked to the twins, "Sorry guys, I doubt he really meant it like that."
"What do you mean?" Mabel asked him.
"Robbie's really fresh. It can take a while for people to get used to fame and stuff like that. He's just, you know, trying to settle in. He doesn't get the whole PR aspect quite yet," Bishop explained, walking around to the other end of the couch, sitting down on the hand rest. "Sounds like you guys have some past with him though?"
"You could say that," Dipper said bitterly.
"That sounds like a story we need to hear," Marcus grinned as he and Kane began a game on the television together, the keyboardist taking the spot on the couch Bishop gave up.
"It's nothing really exciting," Mabel admitted, "Except the one time Dipper summoned a video game character to chase him around town to beat him up," Mabel added. The game on the screen paused, and the three men slowly turned their heads around to look at Mabel.
"What she means is I whopped his butt at Fight Fighters," Dipper interjected, and the three laughed and nodded.
"Good game," Bishop added.
Marcus mumbled as he took to his controller, "Third was the best, though."
From the other end of the bus, the two talking quietly turned around. Robbie seemed grumpy and upset, but Zander had put back on his smile and walked back towards them.
"So, I was thinking – dudes, turn that off for a second," Zander demanded of his co-band mates, who sighed and unwillingly complied with his request, "Thanks. Okay, so Dipper and Mabel seem like they may know the scoop around here."
"Huh?" Dipper and Mabel grunted at the same time, aware that all eyes were on them.
"So, I was thinking; next album needs a new outlook. Supposedly this area has something crazy going on. Robbie says these two know what's up, so... why don't we let them show us?" Zander suggested, a wide smile on his face.
The other artists were not so gung-ho. "What, you mean giant, man-eating spiders?" Kane asked worriedly.
"Or women who can punch with fire?" Marcus also asked.
"Or mammoths?" Bishop piped in.
"Mina wasn't a mammoth," Mabel corrected him with a wiggle of her finger, "She was a mastodon." The band member opened his mouth to reply, but closed it, and gave thought for a few moments before shrugging.
"C'mon guys," Zander said, a plea in his voice, "We've been making music about myths and legends all our careers," he told them, and then slapping a hand on Robbies back, "And Robbie says these two really know what's up around here. If we're with them, we won't really be in danger."
"W-whoa a second there," Dipper gasped and looked around as he and Mabel chortled from the praise, "I mean... sure, we kind of deal with the weird around town, but that doesn't mean we can just make it safe," he explained.
"Really? Tell that to Rumble for me," Robbie crossed his arms together and glared at Dipper. Dipper was all too happy to mirror the action.
Zander ignored the comment. "This could be our chance to blow our current album clean out of the water! Just imagine; we're out here, discovering the strange and unusual, and we get to make songs about it all! It would be totally original and probably as epic as this last one!" Zander declared. His fellow band mates seemed less encouraged, still worried about the reports of strangeness around town. Zander looked to the twins, and his eyes met Mabel.
Her mind begged her to be silent. Mabel knew that it was true- those woods were dangerous no matter who walked through them. Heck: even with Arline in tow they had still been attacked by a werewolf. Yet she couldn't disappoint those eyes, no matter how hard her mind desperately pleaded her to be silent. She laughed with a false confidence, and slapped her brother's shoulder.
"Ha! Of course, we got this!" Mabel told Zander. This caused his small frown to grow into a fully-fledged beaming smile. Dipper turned and stared at her; his eyes wide with concern. Robbie shook his head gently, his eyes closed. Mabel added, "You can count on us guys," as she grinned.
"Well, if you think so," Bishop shrugged, "I'm in."
"Awesome!" Zander proclaimed excitedly, "When can we go?"
"What?" Mabel asked him. His expectant stares again pierced any protection from denying him. Those green eyes would not be let down by Mabel. She sighed and nodded, "Well, we can take you over to the Mystery Manor first, and then take you on a tour of the woods?"
"You promise?" Zander asked, that grin even wide now as he radiated excitement.
"Yeah... I promise," Mabel chuckled as she felt the heat from Dipper's glare burn off pieces of her skin.
"Absolutely, yes!" Zander cheered, and in one fell swoop slapped all the knees of those sitting on the couch, "Get into your hiking kicks dudes! We got mystery and adventure to accomplish!" The others groaned as he laughed as he leapt past Robbie, who glared at Dipper still.
"Yeah, just don't sic any of them on us, cool kid?" Robbie added warningly to Dipper who snorted.
"Just don't try hypnotizing them to do whatever you want, right Robbie?" Dipper added, and Robbie went scarlet in the face.
"Why you-"
Mabel wrapped an arm around her brother. "And, we're going! We'll be waiting for you guys at the Mystery Manor! See you guys soon!" Mabel told them as he grasped Dipper by the arm and pulled him down the steps to the outside. As he landed with her on the grass outside, he swore under his breath and turned to face Mabel. She was already marching quietly away, her hands in her pockets.
"Mabel, what the heck?!" Dipper demanded, "Last time we did that, we both nearly died!"
"Yeah, but we were dumb last time," Mabel tried explaining, "And these guys are... fit? They can handle themselves against a werewolf... I think."
"We've trained in martial arts for a month and a half, Mabel," Dipper told her with fear, "And you think these guys, these people who are just musicians, can handle themselves?" he demanded of her, a worry so prominent, he turned his head back to the shack to make sure they couldn't be overheard. "I don't think they should be coming with us."
"Dipper... I made a promise," she told him, "I don't want to go back on that."
"But this could be life or death-"
"I won't be," she assured him.
"How can you be so sure?!" Dipper demanded angrily.
Mabel looked away, tension and cold sweat forming in her neck. She sighed and started walking with him in tow, shaking his head. She didn't have anything to truly re-assure him on the matter. Mabel desperately wanted to explain that drive to impress the man she couldn't pry her eyes away from when he smiled and laughed. There was just a deep power behind that gaze she needed to re-assure and provide for. Her mind came to the conclusion she feared, let alone dared never to say.
This would be her largest crush she had ever had on another person.
Whoops. So, heading out with family and friends for a weekend to where internet is questionable was a poor choice in regards to proper scheduling. Heh. Sorry. XD
But at least it's here now! Right? Hahah? Yeah. Right.
Duskhope! They're here. And that means a few things to those who have been on this ride since the beginning. I'm going to hint to those who haven't been paying as much attention- Episode 8, season 1. A certain circle has reference here. ;)
And Mabel: poor poor Mabel unable to say no Zander. At least she'll think twice before teasing Dipper about his inabilities to not disappoint Wendy and the likes. What goes around comes around though...
Next week we get to see a REALLY long part two- this will probably be about TWICE as long as this one- longest yet. Duskhope and the twins have a nice stroll through the woods and find stuff. What? Who? 'How can be'? Find out next week- on Time next time!
Seeya- (A giant ape made of clocks takes out a warhammer made of watches and swings at EZB like he was a golf ball. EZB goes flying through his window and vanishes into the sunset.)