The mid-day of the American Prairie was a strange sight. The sun captured all within eyesight, leaving a vast expanse of grass, dust, and hills to be bleached dry. There was only the Moody Mountain; the solitary and unusual peak in the middle of this wilderness did cast a protective shadow on the world around. It acted as a natural sundial. The happenings nearby had been anything but natural.
Stepping to jeep under the hot sun, Soos flopped down onto the hood. "Ohh," he moaned, and closed his eyes. "Well, as far as days go, there could have been better ways for it to go," he mumbled, feeling his skin grow hot. "Also, I think I'm burning my flesh. Ow."
He jolted up, wiping his head left and right as he waved his hands in the air, the stinging relaxed with fresh air. The car next to him lurched again. Turning to the doorside, Soos saw Wendy pull herself up and into the seat and slide in. He stared at her, and she looked only up to the sky.
"Okay, so we're here," Soos sighed, "Now we just wait for the twins."
Wendy said nothing.
"Yeah," Soos said to himself, and cupped his hands together. That pull on Wendy's jaw could only mean one thing. Well, maybe four, as Soos thought about it. She could be having digestion issues, if she had eaten recently. Maybe she was chewing on some gum. There could be a chance she was warming up her jaw muscles by tightening and then relaxing.
Or, and the more likely of all the possibilities, she was upset.
"So," Soos clapped his hands together, "Bison."
"Yeah," Wendy grumbled, and slid a hand to her eyes.
"Magical-psychic powers Bison," Soos added with a chuckle, "That sounds just like home."
"What?" Wendy poked an eye out from under her hand, staring at him now.
"Yeah. You know, like indestructible gnomes, or body-altering crystals, or beavers with chainsaws," Soos reasoned. Wendy squinted at him at the list. Soos nodded. "I know, right?! I mean, where does a beaver even get a chainsaw?"
"Soos," Wendy leaned forward, "I'll, one day, want a list of every single thing I've missed. I'm getting tired with learning about this stuff only when we're basically on the run, man."
"Hah! Right," Soos said, chuckling.
As Wendy laid back in her seat, staring out in the distant horizon, Soos also glanced around. His eyes traced the surrounding mountainside for movement. Still no signs of the dangerous Bison, nor Dipper, Mabel, or the crazy ranger dude who as far as Soos was concerned, was British. Or Irish. It was hard for him to tell sometimes the difference.
"I wonder how long they'll take to get here," Soos mused as he stared at the mountain. A shuffle behind him cause a quick turn. Wendy, to his view, had suddenly vanished. With a blink, he stood on his toes, and saw she had entirely lowered the seat. "Aw, getting comfy, good idea," Soos nodded. He strode over, and pulled himself into the driver seat.
With the red-head next to him, he leaned in. "So," he cleared his throat, "There was the one time that Dipper, Mabel, and I found that the Gobblewonker was real, but then it was just a robot." Wendy, who had closed her eyes, had them dart open. Soos continued, "Then there was the one time where Dipper made a video game character beat up Rob- oh," Soos chuckled, and apologetically shrugged to Wendy, "Sorry, Dipper asked me to never tell you that. Can't break a promise to a bro."
Eyeing her coworker, Wendy slowly said, "Okay…"
"Then there was the time we battled a huge candy-demon on Summerween, and the time we all got thrown into the bottomless pit and then just popped out the entrance, since, I guess it has no 'bottom', and the time I switched bodies with Waddles, and the-"
"Soos!" Wendy cried out, "Look, thanks for trying, but I kind of meant 'in detail' when I wanted to hear the stories," she grunted.
"Oh, right. Well, to start back up," he adjusted in his seat, "We were at my boat, the S.S. Cool-Dude, when-"
Wendy grumbled, "Maybe now is not the best time for stories?"
Soos paused, his banter faltering as he studied Wendy. Reading people, especially ones who were any good at concealing their emotions, made Soos upset. He enjoyed the love that two people could share with one another if they held nothing back. Granted, he understood that sometimes there were things you never told someone, especially when it put them down. In the end, he always just wanted people to get along; and the best way he saw that was honesty.
He couldn't be sure, but he was certain Wendy was holding back. So, he chuckled, and nodded.
"Right," he grinned, "Maybe radio?"
"Let's keep it off," Wendy stated.
"But maybe we could get a really cool radio signal," Soos suggested.
Wendy shivered, retorting, "If you wanted to listen to country twenty-four-seven."
"Point accepted," Soos nodded and laid back in his seat. He once again glanced to Wendy, her eyes glued to the sky. "So, uh... you want to play a game while we wait for Dipper and Mabel?"
"Soos," Wendy sat up, running a hand through her hair, "We need to do something other than wait for them."
"Exactly!" Soos nodded.
"Something important," Wendy implied, looking at him.
Soos shrugged, and then suggested, "I've heard that I Spy increases perception and shape recognition in our mind."
"Soos!" Wendy barked first, and then stared at him. He had recoiled from her, his eyes wide and glued on her as she watched him. She then asked, "Rally?" Soos could only nod, afraid he had said something that offended.
He lowered his guard slightly and centered himself. "Sorry Wendy," he apologized, "I didn't mean to rile you up or anything."
"You... didn't. It's not your fault."
"Oh, good," Soos sighed. "I was worried I said something bad. You know," he added, scratching the back of his head as he pondered his past choices around people during times of stress, "Not the best at being a 'smooth talker'."
Wendy rocked her head side to side, giving his words a little digesting. "Don't be too hard on yourself man."
"Hah, right, me hard on myself," Soos chuckled.
"Because, you know, you shouldn't be," Wendy added, her straightened postured slacking slowly.
"Oh. Uh, gotcha," Soos nodded, studying her as best he could.
"Just don't blame yourself," Wendy said.
Soos stared at her. "Is this one of those tricks where you're actually talking about something else, and not what we're actually talking about?" Wendy grumbled, and pulled her feet to the side of the jeep, landing outside and marching away. "Uh, is that a yes?" he called after her, leaning past her seat to the edge of the jeep.
"Of course!" she shouted back.
"Oh," he leaned into the seat more, his face heating up. Of course, he would miss something like that. He always did. "So, uh, you mind letting me in the crazy secret, dude?"
"Well," she clawed at her hair, "The heck are we going to do!?"
"Uh, like over time? Or more-"
"Now, Soos!" she shouted. She panted heavily as Soos stared at her. "Dipper and Mabel are both gone. We've lost our head in this operation! If there was anyone who was going to lead us to the star-stone, it was him and Mabel! What do we actually know!?"
"Well, what it looks like, and what it does?" Soos shrugged. Wendy grumbled and cupped a hand over her eyes. Soos grinned. "Besides," he added, "We already know that it's totally inside the mountain."
"How do we know that?" she asked him.
"Uhh... because the Bison?" he suggested.
"We don't know. But the guys who would know are being held prisoner inside, or worse!" Wendy growled. She then stomped her foot, and started marching towards the incline. Soos pushed himself out of the car, flipping out and collapsing on the ground with a loud crash. His fall granted a quick check from Wendy, who regardless continued to walk.
"Hold up!" Soos called, rushing to head her off. Finally he stepped in front of her. "Dude, what are you doing?"
"I'm going back in for the twins."
"But dude, they told us to not get caught," Soos reasoned with her, trying to hold his hands out to repel her. Yet her shoulders caught against his palms, her thought his mass was much, her strength was constant. He found himself slowly being pushed back.
"I'm not going to get caught," she growled, and stepped forward, pushing Soos a foot's distance backwards.
"But we can't fight them!" Soos protested.
"Watch me," Wendy dared, her voice quiet.
"Wendy-"
"Get off me, Soos!" she shouted, and he stepped back, his eyes fearfully watching her. She panted for a moment, staring at him with her hair to either side.
There had been many times he had been mad at Wendy Corduroy- the time she ditched him while supporting a ladder and he fell onto a hive nest three years ago. Or the time she tossed out his CD of Lil Bigg Dawggg and never bought him a new one. Or the time... actually, in retrospect, those were really the only times Soos had ever genuinely been upset at her.
Now he was sure what it was like to have someone like Wendy furiously staring you down.
Messy hair on either side, she slowly came to lower her head from her shoulders, Soos gulped and wondered if he had gone too far.
But he had a mission. "Sorry Wendy," he apologized quietly, "I made a promise to Mister Pines to keep you all safe. All of you. I'm going to keep it."
Wendy looked up. Soos was never the first to admit it, but he would never deny how slow he was to pick up on things. But even he could see how exhausted Wendy looked. Her hair in the mess it was, her face pale and her eyes dark, she seemed... true to her aspect. She sort of looked undead.
"How are you going to protect the twins if they're in the mountain?" Wendy asked, her voice low, sounding sore, and tried beyond hope.
Soos pursed his lips, and spun towards the face of the geological mound. She wasn't wrong: out of sight and in the mound of the enemy, the twins were... off worse than him and Wendy. There was no telling what state they were in while trapped deep inside the mountain, and he had no hope of defending them while inside. He couldn't look out for them separated like this.
Was... he useless? Suddenly, he was looking to his feet. That weight of disappointment- that the voice of Stanley Pines gave him, reminding him of his task to protect his family, was a heavy one. How could he bare to know he had failed so quickly? They were gone from him, and Soos would not disappoint Dipper.
Then... Soos, turned around, and stared into the horizon. "I, I don't know Wendy, dude. I'm honestly freakin' out here. Mister Pines made sure I was the boss; the one who was going to make sure everyone was safe. But... if I can't do that now, what am I?"
Wendy's tired form froze. She watched him, from her posture of animalistic anger, slowly fading from her eyes. Had there been more to her look, Soos missed it all.
"I have to at least protect you," Soos admitted, "because I need to make sure I don't mess everything up for Mister Pines. So that, you know, the fact he's gone means something."
Wendy's mouth fell open. "Soos," she barely said. He finally saw her again, no longer lost in the swirl of doubt formed in his mind. "I'm sorry," she quietly said. "I shouldn't have shouted," he added as she pulled her hair behind her.
"Heh," he shrugged, "And I shouldn't have pushed you-"
"Yes, you should have," she kindly admitted, "Going back in, yeah, it'd be cool and I might be able to get in, but I'm not going to just get everyone out – not without doing something worse."
"Uh... right," Soos nodded, in shock at the sudden reversal.
"But I'm not wrong," she defiantly said.
"Totally," Soos grinned. After a moment of empty thought, he lost his smile, "About what?"
"We can't just sit here," she said. "I mean, aside from being useless if we just stand around here, it's dangerous. Those Bison could come out."
"Right. And we can't be useless," Soos agreed, all pretenses of joking aside. "So," he paused, "Uh... plan of action?" he asked.
Wendy paused, putting a hand to her mouth. "Man, this is so much more of a Dipper thing than me. Ugh... I have no idea?" she asked, scratching her scalp.
Soos hummed, turning his head around, and spotting the Jeep. "Well, Rob the Irishman didn't leave his keys."
"Irishman?" Wendy asked as Soos made for the jeep. "Soos, he's Aus-"
"We should grab what we can and make for the town," Soos decided, "And see if anyone else can help out." As he made to the car and reached in for a kit of tools to travel with, Wendy's hand reached in and held his down.
"Or... we hotwire the car and drive it back ourselves?" She suggested with a wicked grin.
"Oh," Soos dropped the box, letting it clatter tools inside loudly. "Uh," he gave her thought a consideration, and shrugged with a small grin. "Yeah, that makes more sense I guess."
"Sweet," she smiled, and reached in for a pocket knife and a screwdriver. "Grab me a thing of duct-tape, and we'll be good. Unless," she offered him the screwdriver, "You want to do it yourself?"
"Dude," Soos chuckled, "I'm a handyman. I fix things, not break them. At least," he considered back to many times in the Mystery Manor, "Not intentionally."
"Suit yourself man," Wendy nodded, "Maybe watch a pro work her magic on a car that doesn't want to cooperate?"
"Just in case you need me for something," Soos chuckled.
Sitting in the passenger seat while Wendy worked was bizarre. He had never pondered what it was like to watch himself work, repairing and fixing something with little to no ease. Radios, walls, tires, water-pumps, toilets; it didn't matter what. He could fix it up and make it better if he needed to. Now he could lean back and watch as someone else did their craft; re-purposing and re-directing.
Why did it make him feel... unneeded?
A minute later, the engine was purring again, and Wendy was driving the two across the flats. It was decided quickly: regardless of Bud Gleeful, their best bet for finding help was back in Darkbark. Other people who had been hurt by the bison could rally to their cause, and something more than just the two of them could make an impact worth coming back with.
Yet, as the jeep recoiled with the bumps and jolts as they drove over rocks and drops in the ground, the two spotted a figure on the horizon.
Soos, shielding his eyes with his hand, asked, "Wendy, what do your Wraith-eyes see?"
She glared at him, for a moment, and then sighed as she looked back. "It's the shaman."
"Oh yeah! Wawa-man. Wanaset? Wakata? Uhh... shoot, what was his name?" Soos pondered, scratching at his chin as they approached the simple and worn looking figure some half a mile away.
"Ask him when we get there," Wendy prompted. Then she frowned. "You know, he was pretty sure of himself when he warned us to not go to the mountain."
"Sure was," Soos nodded, "Sort of had that whole 'the earth tells me way cool things', you know?"
"Or maybe he knows more than we do because he's involved?" Wendy asked aloud.
"That too," Soos said with a quick grin. Then an idea flashed to his mind. "Maybe he can control them! Super-cartoon style! Just like my animes!"
"This isn't a cartoon, Soos," Wendy muttered.
"If you say so, dude," he gave her a wink.
A quick minute later, the car was pulling slowly in front of the man, who had stopped his stroll, and watched them with a wary eye. Their eyes met his, an unflinching force of wisdom and experience that easily bested theirs by generations. He studied them silently before Wendy slowly started to climb out the car.
Soos stood and waved. "Hey there, Wally-tea-uh!"
"Nice try," Wendy chuckled.
"My name is Wanekia," he told them, his aged voice gripped with wisdom, "You best remember."
"Best remembered and done," Soos nodded, "Wawakia." Moving on from Soos, the old man glared at Wendy, his squint conveying an impatience that came with his age.
"You have returned from the mountain," he noted, "And without your guide. Nor your full numbers."
"Dipper and Mabel were taken inside," Soos quickly explained as he climbed down and also approached, "And we're going back to town to-"
"Soos!" Wendy gasped, "Not all at once."
The old man shook his head. "I warned Ron of what would come should he take anyone further to the mountain," Wanekia shook his head, "The man was a fool. He is missing too. Taken by the Bison?"
"Well, yeah," Soos said, "Thought they were clever, how they-"
Wendy snapped to the local. "How did you know they were Bison?"
He stared at her for a moment. "Because I have seen them," he said calmly.
"They saw us and tried to freakin' kill us," Wendy barked.
"Or at least kick us around," Soos added.
"Why wouldn't they do that to you?" she demanded. "What makes you so special to them?"
Wanekia's eyes became slits as he glared at her. "Do not raise your tone with me, child." Wendy's hands twitched, seeming to resist clutching tightly on his walking stick.
"Dude, we're trying to help our friends here," Soos explained, "If you could give us a pointer-"
"I am not investing further into this situation," Wanekia snapped suddenly, and spun away.
Before Soos could prompt her not to, Wendy was on the Shaman. The streak of red snatched out and pulled the man back by the hem of his shirt, dragging him across the ground. The man cried out, trying to stand as Wendy snarled and tossed his back to the front of the still humming jeep.
"Cut. The. Attitude," Wendy snarled.
"You-" Wanekia snapped, but Wendy leaned down, her face inches from his.
"Our friends are now in trouble! All you told us was that 'the mountain was dangerous'. You're going to help us out now, so that you don't pay for knowing what was waiting for us and not telling us!" Wendy roared, her vindication blasting forth as a terrible rage.
Soos stared at the man, at Wendy's mercy. "Is... dude, is she right?" he asked, his voice hollow. The man looked to Soos, wide in silent fear. Soos stepped up, still not at the older man's face, but now near enough to see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Dawg, we're totally not trying to hurt you. Well," he gave Wendy a glance, "We don't want to. I just want to protect my friends. They're still inside the mountain," Soos pleaded, and got down to at seat. "Can't you help us, Mister Wanekia?"
The Shaman stared to Soos. Study and contemplation bled through his eyes as his brow furrowed and his glance darted over Soos's features. His gathering of motives seemed to come to a conclusion, as he then looked to Wendy, a calmed expression to him. "Let me go. I will not leave."
"Yeah?" Wendy nodded, and did as asked. "I wouldn't try it anyway. I'd catch up."
Wanekia studied her again, and nodded. "Perhaps you would," he granted her, and then sat before Soos, calmly into a peaceful mediatory seat. "I will explain how this all began, and why I am to blame."
"You?" Soos blinked. Wendy also moved over, standing behind Soos.
"Yes," Wanekia reached to his neck and lowered his fingers under his shirt, drawing out a small fabric necklace. At the center, a set for a stone, now vacant. "You see, Bison are a blessing to this land. They churn the soil. They are indomitable spirits. But they have been hunted, disrespected. I've seen their numbers reach the gates of history forever, and only now they return in bountiful numbers."
"Which is good," Soos nodded, "like, totally good."
"So, you wanted to get revenge?" Wendy asked, curious.
"No," Wanekia shook his head as he felt the empty socket on his chain between his fingers slowly, rolling it around, "Revenge was... never what I've sought. Ever. Revenge is selfish. It consumes. I wanted balance," he explained, looking up in earnest.
Wanekia explained, "The Bison lived here in larger numbers. Now they could roam again. My ancestors, worshiping, hunting, following, recording these beings of the prairie could rest easier. Then," he scowled, his eyes turning to the east, where Wendy and Soos turned and saw the distant etches of the town, "Gleeful came."
Wendy, already simmering, said, "He and his family have that effect on people."
"Yeah!" Soos added, "And they're not all that nice, dude."
Wanekia nodded. "I found him winding the town up. He proposed plans to expand Darkbark into a thriving town of tourism, at the cost of breaking more and more land up for 'infrastructure'. He tore and ripped at the earth nearby town. With his own resources, he began to eat at the land of the Bison."
Wendy frowned. She pointed around, "But they have so much to thrive on."
"Not all of this land is fertile," Wanekia shook his head, "Should Gleeful's plan come to fruition, nearly half the land that the Bison can graze freely all year would be torn away, and they would begin to starve away and die."
"Aww, dude," Soos clenched his jaw, frowning, "Like, that's more evil than just shooting them." Wanekia stared at him. "Well, I mean," Soos shrugged, "Starving is pretty bad man. Look at me! I hate the idea so much I've prepared for the day it could happen."
"Yes..." Wanekia glanced to Wendy, who made a face over Soos's shoulder. The shaman shook his head, and continued, "Regardless of how, killing these beasts can not happen. I would not allow that sort of death to return. I urged the town to stop. Yet, for a town who had always respected my word, they had become blinded to a new gospel."
Wendy asked, "Bud?"
"Greed," The Shaman whispered.
"Nearly the same thing," Wendy sighed.
"Their hearts are turned by the promise of wealth. Before Gleeful, they lived here, happier than with the promise of wealth. I needed their aid, and protested Bud's influence. They, in turn, chastised me from their town," he sighed. "They are not bad. They are... unwise."
"Still, they aren't listening to you. So... how does this become your fault?" Wendy asked.
Wanekia stared at his necklace further. A long pause followed Wendy's question, only the gentle wind and humming of the car behind them interrupting. Finally, he spoke, never looking up.
"My father, and father before him, held a stone. The stone formerly in this necklace," he stated, holding the piece of jewelry out, "Was a gift. A friend of the lands presented it to us for our dedication to peace and preservation. It was said to have... great powers. I... a week ago, I planted the stone in the mountain, and prayed to the stone that the Bison would be granted the abilities to stand against the forces that seek to disturb their lives."
"The stone," Soos leaned in, "Did it look all dark, but also kind of shimmery?" The Shaman straightened up, staring at him. Soos, examining the man, asked, "Soo... a maybe?"
Wendy told him, "That's a yes."
"Oh, good," Soos sighed, "So, you had a Starkissed stone."
The Shaman's mouth dropped. "Never have I heard another so... freely know of this rare treasure," he admitted.
The redhead rolled her eyes, "Well, we're weird."
Wanekia looked to her, and then hastened his story. "To my shock, the stone worked. Within minutes, the Bison suddenly were upon me, asking me for information in perfect English, of all things," he chuckled, "They wanted to know how to defend themselves. I encouraged that they speak their mind and stand up to the town. What I had not anticipated was their resentment," he explained, a slow shake of his head, "They truly despised the townsfolk for destroying their land. They would not talk – only return the favor."
"Dude," Soos sighed, "that's uncool hardcore."
Wendy's jaw tightened. "And you, what, took the stone away?"
The Shaman studied her. "The stone is the only thing... giving them a fighting chance."
Wendy glared. "Those Bison are willing to attack people, and they seem to be getting angrier and bolder!" Wendy pointed out.
"The townsfolk will see their mistakes," Wanekia assured them, "And as soon as the Bison are sated-"
"But they won't be," Wendy cut in, "They were wronged. They've been given something that they can't control!"
"Uh, you lost me there," Soos turned to her.
"Their powers!" Wendy snapped, stepping next to Soos, towering over the Shaman, "Their minds! They can think and strategize, and all they knew before that was fear and anger! You gave that a voice!"
"I gave... no," the shaman shook his head, "You are wrong. I offered these creatures the chance to stand up for themselves."
"And they ARE!" Wendy roared, "And they're not going to stop, because they don't know anything other than the pain they're stuck with! People who try to help without knowing what they do just end up hurting others!" She stomped her foot into the ground, "See, people like you are what made things like me!"
Soos flinched. "Wendy," he pleaded.
Wanekia quietly asked, "Things like you?"
"Yeah!" she shouted, "I'm not human anymore! I'm stuck in-"
"Undeath," Wanekia whispered. Wendy and Soos stared to him; one breathing heavily and the other with his mouth hung open. The man's eyes glued to the redhead. "I could sense a darkness lingering within you. One... you did not manifest yourself."
"Yeah," Wendy nodded, "Someone ruined my life. And to 'fix it'," she quoted, "He brought me back to life. Only he didn't realize how much it messed me up. And I'm telling you," she pointed to the mountain, "Those Bison are just the same."
"Not the undead part," Soos explained.
Wanekia told Soos, "Yes, I have followed her."
"Oh. Good," Soos nodded curtly.
Wanekia the shaman lowered the necklace, having it fall to his chest. "I saw the Bison as a spiritual creature. Something greater than I. I... could not have it taken away again," he said, his eyes falling to the ground, "They did not deserve it."
Soos glanced to Wendy, who's heated stare only faltered when she realized her friend was staring at her. She then lifted her gaze and turned away, rubbing her face. Soos leaned in. "Dude, not going to lie, it's pretty bad when stuff like this happens, you know? But, like, that's why we're here," he added with a grin, "To fix things." Wanekia lifted his head. His eyes bore deep into Soos's, who unflinchingly smiled back. "So, c'mon dawg. Help us fix this one?"
Wanekia, his tanned features slowly turning, began to smile. No larger than the faintest of grins, it was the warmest of looks he had given them. He rose to stand.
"I cannot apologize for what I have done. However, I can, and will," he announced, "Make amends, and repair the damages I have caused."
"That's the spirit!" Soos proclaimed, standing to his feet, "I mean, besides to part where you talk to spirits. I bet you see spirits a lot actually. Hm. Could have used a better phrase."
"The ticket?" Wendy suggested.
"Eh, sure," Soos nodded.
"Either way," Wendy spoke to Wanekia, "We're going to town. There could be someone there who could help us," she said.
The Shaman gave a sullen nod. "I would hope, but not expect such."
"Well, all aboard the Scottish guy's car," Soos pointed to the Jeep. Wendy and Wanekia stared, shared a quick glance, and then both silently climbed into the car as Soos took the wheel.
"So," Soos turned to Wendy, a glint in his eye, "You feel any better, dude?"
"Huh?" she asked.
"Got a bit of stuff off your chest," Soos acknowledged.
Wendy frowned, and leaned into her seat, sliding down mildly. Her face began to tightening as she thought hard and fast. "Soos," she finally said, just barely over the rumble of the car, "Could you not tell the twins I kind of lashed out like that?" she asked.
"Huh? Why? I thought they knew about this sort of stuff with you," Soos shrugged, "I mean, they sure knew about it before me."
Wendy stared at him, and Soos felt the look. He hadn't meant to make it sound... accusing, but it had come out as such. He couldn't hold it against her that she withheld something like that from him. Yet, inside his heart, a string of trust between the two of them had severed. Only now was it starting to re-grow. Wendy looked away.
"They do know. Just... I don't want them worrying over it," Wendy sighed. "Dipper already thinks he's going to find a cure."
Soos chuckled, "Why won't he?"
"Because there isn't one," Wendy admitted darkly.
"That's what they said about other crazy stuff too," Soos reminded her.
"This is the top of the crazy," Wendy bragged.
"Yeah! But who does crazy best?" Soos asked, and gave a thumb to himself, "Us. We totally rock the crazy, dude." Wendy chuckled half-heartedly, nodding. Soos continued, "If there's someone out there that can do it, it's Dipper," he said. "He knows, like, so much. Well, maybe not as much as Zander, but pretty close."
Wendy grinned, and her smile faded as her eyes squinted. "Yeah," she said, eyeing the shaking mirror on her side, "He does, doesn't he..."
"Yeah! Dipper's figured out, like, everything before," Soos reminded her, "As long as he puts his mind to it, and gets help from Mabel, the two of them can't be stopped!"
"Huh?" Mabel looked to Soos. After a quick blink, she nodded. "Right. Dipper can. Yeah."
"You lead interesting lives for ones so young," Wanekia sighed from the back.
"Gravity Falls in a nutshell," Soos chuckled.
"Where?" the Shaman asked. The two in the front fell quiet the rest of the drive.
When they finally did pull into town, a crowd had gathered. The man formerly cradling a broken and bent in car was at the head, flanked by Bud Gleeful. The elaborately dressed cowboy stepped forward as the car came to a standstill, and parked.
"Bud here informs me that you lot been lookin' into this problem for us," the mayor said as he rolled his hands together. "Tell me you've got good news! Us here been praying for it."
"Not exactly," Wendy said, and stepped aside, revealing Wanekia, who's unflinching persona was quickly seen by the gathered populace. Muttering and whispers spread like fire as he and the two came closer.
"What is he doing here?" The mayor pointed, "That man is nothin' but a trouble maker!"
"The kind that gets chased out of town," Bud shook his head, "Despicable! Turning on his fellow countrymen."
"Okay, first of all," Wendy held out a finger, "He's native American. Like, I'm pretty sure you were just as insensitive to him without just calling him an 'Indian'. Second, you of all people don't get to talk about 'being run out of town'!"
Bud gave a large, stage-crafted gasp. "Why, whatever are you implying, missy?"
"Well, probably the time you and Gideon got thrown out of town because you conspired with demons," Soos said matter-of-factly.
"What pile of nonsense!" Bud laughed, waving his hands at them, "My wife and son and I decided to leave town amicably. After all, Gravity Falls was a town with an established setting. Darkbark here? No, they need my help, after all. And these fine people," Bud stepped side, waving to the town populace, now glaring at the three, "Are more than happy with my presence."
"You have turned their gracious, welcoming hearts," Wanekia scowled, "Plagued their minds with avarice."
"Now, now," Bud shook his head, "That's just rotten, that is. After all, what's wrong with just a little bit of want?" he asked, and turned to the crowd, "We're going to want people to see this great town and all it has to offer, amirite ya'll?" he asked. The people cheered and hollered. One of the cowboys tossed his hat up and shot to the sky, giving a proud 'Yeeehaaaw!'.Bud held his hands up, "Now, Staletham, calm down. No need to get violent," Bud asked the crowd, and then half-turned, looking to the three, "Yet."
Soos opened his mouth, and then he saw Wendy take a step forward.
"You remember Gravity Falls?" she asked.
"Well, of course I do," Bud sighed. "So what?"
"How?" she asked.
"What'cha talking about?" he asked, his voice lowering in energy and enthusiasm.
"No one remembers Gravity Falls anymore," she announced, "It was erased from reality."
Bud's eyes widened as he stared at her. "Uh," he glanced to Soos, who shrugged. "Well look here," he growled, "I don't know what kind of shenanigans you're trying, but I'm not taken. I spent quite a lot of life in that backwater hole, and now I'm in a shining new beacon. Don't matter where I am – I'll still remember what I came from."
"Good. So do the Bison," Wendy pointed out.
"The what?" Gleeful replied very quickly.
Soos pointed at him. "I think he just bluffed!" he declared, and then said to Wanekia, "Bud's lying!"
"Nice, Soos," Wendy grinned and rolled her eyes. "You're lying, Bud."
"Ya'll, this here woman is calling me a liar," Bud stepped away, his face falling in faux-shame, "And all I came here for was to help and-"
A powerful, rough voice shouted "You are a liar!"
The townsfolk shuddered, and Gleeful lost the attention of the gathered people. All eyes were now on Wanekia. The lines on his face cut deep shadows across his form, and he stood before them all, casting his dark, angry gaze.
"You've come promising wealth, never help," Wanekia spat, "Money, not prosperity! Pleasantness, but not kindness! Land, but not homes! I ask you now, seeing the damage you've caused: who's wealth would be increasing!?" he pointed to the town, "These attacks only started after your interference with the land. The damages done to these people, the things they must re-build-"
"Is all considered under the payment and balances of this town's negotiations with myself," Bud proudly proclaimed. "They won't lose a penny while I'm here."
"Can you buy back their time?!" Wanekia demanded. Bud pursed his lips, silent. Wanekia added, "Can you buy them away fear!?"
"I plan on it. After this," Bud announced, "I'll be calling in exterminators for these cretins!"
Wendy scoffed. "You don't get it?" she quietly asked. "That's what started this! You broke something, and they broke back! If you try to escalate this, only more are going to be hurt."
With his best, authoritative shout, Bud Roared, "But we'll win, in the end!" scaring those around him with his booming voice.
Soos spoke up finally. "Will you?" All turned to him, and he quivered under the eyes of many. "Uhh, look, so, I'm not the best at, uh, public speaking, and stuff, but you've got to believe us. I'm just a handyman, okay dudes? I fix things. But I'm telling ya: when you break something by dropping it, you don't fix it by dropping it again."
The folk listening started to think to themselves. The strength and conviction to Bud's testament shook and trembled with Soos's words of wisdom. Bud's hardened glare fixed on him, now corrupted with a trace of fear. Even the two nearest him, Wendy and Wanekia, watched as Soos's simple yet efficient words infected the people before them with truth.
Soos shrugged, and added, "Like, you can keep picking up a glass cup and dropping it, hoping to change the million and two shards. Or you pick up the pieces, and change what happened, and make a fix."
Bud turned about, looking to the people. "Y'all can't be serious!" he proclaimed. "He's just a handyman! Said it himself! He ain't no special man, or philosopher type!"
"Now hold on, Bud," the mayor held up a hand, "There ain't anythin' wrong with being a handyman."
Bud's jaw dropped. "You're goin' to listen to this fool!?"
"I don't know," the man shrugged, his wide hat flopping around, "Don't seemed that foolish to me."
Soos's cheeks shot red-hot. "Well, gosh, thanks. I'm not really someone who gets wise-words, ya know?"
"Soos," Wendy said, smiling her fullest, "Nice one." The handyman could only smile back. Wendy spun around, facing Bud, who had only just come under the very real possibility that he was no longer in control with the situation. "Townspeople, let's face it – Bud used you to get money! He hurt those Bison, who in turn vent on you. The only person left unscathed so far is him!" she pointed at Bud, who flinched.
"W-Well now," he chuckled in a worry chirp, "I-I think I should point out I've never forced anyone in town to do anything they wouldn't wanna do. I'm just guarantee of change for this good town," he stated.
The Mayor, barely half his height, stepped next to him, and glared up. "Bud, the change you're a-bringin' ain't what we're lookin' for." As bud gulped, the Mayor snapped his fingers and shouted, "Hogtie 'em!"
Bud cried out as three dozen men and women dived onto him, many with ropes of their own. As the large man slowly fell to the ground, his hat fell to Soos's feet, swayed by the gentle toss of the breeze. Over the cries and grunts of Bud, Soos lifted the hat, dusting it off. He approached the still struggling crowd, where Bud's head poked out awkwardly as he was pressed to the dirt by no less than twenty-four hands.
"Soos?" Wendy asked, her hands out, "You hear that?" Soos walked past her, and stopped just before Bud's cheeks, who glanced up to meet him.
The hat was gently placed onto Bud's balding pink head, and there it rested, covering Bud's face.
"Soos," the man spat out dirt from his mouth, and he pleaded, "C'mon boy. Stan and I were partners for a quick minute back 'n the day. You idolize Stan Pines! Help out the man who could have been his next pal?"
"Sorry Mister Gleeful," Soos sighed, "I made a promise to Mister Pines before he was gone: to protect his family and my friends. I can't help you right now," Soos sighed, and turned away. The man lowered his face, defeat creeping into his flushed cheeks.
Wanekia stepped up to Soos. "There's far more to you than I saw at first, my boy," he said to Soos.
The Handyman laughed. "Nah, that's just because I eat a lot." Wanekia also laughed, and opened his mouth. Yet Soos got to the punch. "But, yeah, thanks. I know what you were talking about dude."
"Soos," Wendy called out, he faced turned away, towards the mountain.
"My boy," the mayor approached Soos, "You've done very well this day. I can't believe how blind-sighted we all were in the sight of a touch more dollar. We couldn't even see eye-to-eye with Wanekia here," the short cowboy admitted, glancing to the native, who nodded.
"But do you see now?" the Shaman asked, a gentle smile returning.
"I... do, my friend, "The cowboy mayor extended a hand. The other took it, and they shook together.
"Yush!" Soos pumped his hand up and down towards the sky, "Another problem fixed! Nothing is as powerful as the power of Fixin' it wi- oh," Soos paused, the two watching him, "Sorry. This would have been a perfect moment for my online show."
"I'd watch your show," The mayor admitted.
"Awesome!" Soos clapped his hands together. "It's called 'Fixin' it With Soos', starring myself, Soos," he explained, "and it's about-"
Wendy shouted, "SOOS!"
"Yeah?" Soos spun around, smiling despite Wendy's outcry. It had been... never, since someone asked Soos about his online show. Wendy was standing away, staring at something in the distance. His eyes focused past hers. Suddenly his mouth got dry, and he gulped.
The ground began to quake.
Wendy dug her feet in, leaning forward slightly. "Man, just when things were getting solved. They're coming," she said.
"Dudes," Soos spun around to the Mayor, who too had just noticed the coming cloud of dust, "Look, this sounds crazy, but these Bison may be angry, but what if everyone just talks this out? We can have a great pow-wow, and like, everyone can hug and feel better. Everyone feels better after hugs."
"Well," the mayor trembled, as did the earth, "Wanekia?" he asked.
The Shaman looked past Soos, to the clouds. "No, the boy is right. This needs to be solved without violence, or more violence will follow."
The mayor nodded, puffed his face out, and shouted. "Y'ALL LISTEN!" he roared. The crowd gathered around him and focused intently on him. "We're going to have a neighborly welcome and chat with them Bison. They're an angry bunch and we don' wrong by them. Our job now – set things right."
From his tied up spot, Bud gulped, "That doesn't include usin' me as a sacrifice, does it?"
The Mayor casually mentioned, "If it comes to it."
"Whatever you want to do," Wendy called, "Do it now! They're nearly here!"
The ground shook so hard that people swayed for balanced. Rocks and pebbles hopped and bounced about, popping and pelting Bud Gleeful's face. "Ow! Ouch! Gosh dangit!" he shouted.
Then they arrived.
The dust settled and flew past the stoic, forward figure of Wendy, and then the crowds. Appearing en mass, was a dozen Bison, all on their fours. The people stared in awe- the size of the creatures already impressive. Then, one by one, the Bison stood on their feet.
"This is a first," the leader admitted, "Finally growing a backbone," he told his comrades. A few chuckles came from his note.
"Ready y'all?" the mayor asked. The simultaneous nod from the townsfolk prepared him. He spun around, and with the entire town, opened his arms wide and shouted-
"Welcome to Deadbark! Famous Wild-West town and frequent rest stop for Ryant Hearp- notable wild-west criminal!"
The bison stared at them, their dark eyes wide in shock. One of the Bison then started it's top hooves together, laughing.
"Wow! That was cool!" he chuckled, "I don't know Ryant Hearp, but I bet he's a big name if there's a town who can-" he turned to talk to his allies, who were all glaring at him. "Oh. Right. Angry with the town. Sorry," he chuckled, and then whipped his head back, and snarled. "We're angry Bison."
"And," the Mayor stepped just behind Wendy, "We're sorry folk."
"Are you?" the leader said, stepping up to Wendy. The redhead barely budged, and the Buffalo asked, "How's that?"
The mayor nodded. Six men stepped over, and lifted Bud Gleeful up, holding him up for all the Bison to see. "The man responsible for the damage to your home and running you off – all yours."
The Bison stared. Many of their dispositions, previously locked onto anger and resentment, softened. One or two looked to their closest pal, nudging them and pointing to Bud with their hooves. Their leader, tallest and the closest to Wendy, sneered.
"So," he leered down at the small mayor, who recoiled and stepped back as the towering figure came closer by leaning in, "You decided to give up someone to save your own skins, did you?"
"N-No!" the mayor clamored.
"What proof is there that this man is solely responsible for what has happened!?" The leader roared.
"He'd tell you!" the mayor nodded his head.
"No I ain't!" Bud shouted. A few of the men kicked him. "Ow! I ain't the man you need!"
"He's lying!" The mayor promised.
"And even if he is," the leader snarled, "What would it do for us?" The mayor gulped, and took several steps back. Smelling the air like it was perfumed with fear, the large bison sneered. "Yes. You all broke our land. Ran us from our old homes and blew it up. What do we have left?" he stomped his foot and yelled into Wendy's face. Her hair whipped past her, yet she was rooted. The beast yelled, "Cave! We are living in a habitat we're not supposed to, all because of you people!"
"Please," Wanekia stepped forward, "Listen to these people," he said, coming closer to Wendy, "They never meant to harm you."
"Shaman," the leader gasped, his face wrinkled with hurt, "You're... siding with these humans?"
"I am here to support a peaceful solution," he pleaded.
"And I'm here to, uh, fix things," Soos nodded, realizing he too was in the eyesight of the leader.
The Bison glared at him, and then Wendy. "You two invaded our caves. You attacked our men and women."
"You all jumped at us first!" Wendy snarled.
"Protecting what little we have," the Bison barked.
Wendy sourly commented, "A great way to go about, lashing out at anything that makes you mad."
The bison snarled back, "Easy for you to say, being someone with everything."
Wendy leaned to him, inches from his snout. "You don't know how good you have it. At least you're alive."
"Alive?!" the Bison leader bellowed, knocking Wendy's hair around. "Having no home to call our own, but being 'alive' is a benefit!?"
"Please," Wanekia called out, "Please, calm down!"
"Boys!" The leader roared, and then pointed forward, "Show them how Bison round up humans!"
"Run!" The mayor screamed at a pitch capable of breaking glass.
Soos lost sight of Wendy in the flash of a blur. The Bison charged forward, at speeds only describable as a stampede. He could only try avoiding the dozen huge beasts as they charged past him, racing at the townsfolk. Wanekia held his hands out.
"No! Stop! This cannot continue-"
A shoulder of one such creature slammed into him, and he flew to the side. Soos rushed to him, avoiding more of the stomping hooves and large horns. On the ground, the older man groaned as he slowly pushed himself up, clutching his own shoulder with a pained hiss.
"They will not listen to me," Wanekia shook his head, his thick hair now falling past his face. "Who will they listen to if not me?"
"Dude," Soos said, looking up and witnessing the Chaos. "I don't know anymore."
Then, admits the chaos, a resounding, WHACK.
The Leader stumbled back, holding two hooves to his nose. The entire chase, the chaos, the screams, all of it died away at once.
Standing in front of the wincing master Bison, a hoof print on her face, was Wendy, glaring at her opponent.
"You're done," she warned him.
The Bison shook its hoof, airing like a bruised fist. "I'm not!" it shouted back at her.
"You really think this is going to help matters?" Wendy asked, exasperation and frustration boiling together to make her breathless.
"I don't care about making things better! I want to get even!" the Bison explained. "They... hurt us!" he cried out. "They deserve to feel that hurt too!"
"And you think that'll help?" Wendy asked earnestly, her hands, firmly raised in defense, fell to her sides.
"Who cares!" the leader spluttered.
Wendy, her eyes daring to bore into his, kept to her point. "You know it wont," she told him darkly.
"Don't tell me what to do!" the Bison shouted, "I don't listen to humans!" he said, lowering his head to prepare a charge.
"Well good!" Wendy screamed back, "Because I'm not a HUMAN!"
The air echoed her words, a perpetual, screaming reminder of what she had just called. The Bison opponent she faced slowly stood up, his eyebrows bent in confusion.
"Y... yes you... are?" he asked.
"No, you can tell, can't you?" Wendy nodded, tears in her eyes. "Even though you're intelligent and smart, you can't shake off that feeling looking at me. Animals could always tell what I am. Bad. Different. Look," she held her hands up, "I'm not saying I've never been a human. I'm... not really one now, though."
"But... how could you know of our pain?" he asked, his voice unguarded for the first time.
Wendy shook her head, and eased a little. "I had a home, man. Past tense. Three years, I had a place I could go home to. But I couldn't. I couldn't go back. It would destroy the people I had known. So, instead, I just walked around," she explained, running a hand through her long red hair, "Hoping it could distract me. In the end, I kept wanting to go back. I missed home. But now... Gravity Falls," she trembled, "The place I call home, is gone. I can't go back now. But I can't hold it against... against anyone now."
"Why?" the Bison asked. "Don't you deserve to?"
"I mean, man, maybe," Wendy shrugged, and looked to the distant sun in the horizon, "But what is that going to do? I already know from experience that getting even doesn't... change things. The best way I've coped with this, my loss," Wendy said to them, "Was to... move away, but alongside people I trusted."
Soos, standing far away, yet intently listening to each word, saw her face as she turned to him. Smiling. Happy. She said, perhaps to Soos more than the Bison, "It's my friends that keep me sane. Without them, I'd go crazy and become some sort of monster or something."
"But we don't trust these people," the bison said, "Why should we trust them?"
"Because," Wendy said, "They're willing to fix what they did."
"We are?" the Mayor asked, nearly sandwiched between two Bison. Wendy spun about, a deathly stare shot right at him. He winced, and quickly changed his tone, saying, "Well, of course! Hah! Who wouldn't want to help someone who's been pushed down?"
"It's a start," Wendy told him, "And sometimes we begin with just one small step, stead of a leap."
The Bison leader stared at her. The bestial pupils focused on her; the creature, former human, who had stood up to him. Physically, verbally, mentally, she combated him. Yet, as he stood, towering over her and looking around, he spied his own friends and comrades staring back.
"We're... tired," the Bison said.
Relating, Wendy said, "I feel ya."
"We just want to have our homes back," he said.
"I think," the mayor spoke up, "We'd be more than happy to accommodate such requests."
"But... you never liked us," the Bison called over, "Why would we change your mind?"
"No, no," the mayor came closer, "that's not it! We always thought you were a great thing to have around. You see... we were confused," he said as he passed by Wendy, coming to the Leader, "The man tied up promised us wealth. And... we wanted to take it. We just didn't realize what we were doing to you all."
The Bison glared to Bud, who was sweating a lake under his large chin. Then the dark eyes turned back and peered into the Mayor. The Bison leader asked, "You... do want to help us?"
"I want us to get along," the Mayor decidedly said, "And that means helping one another out, neighborly. We've been bad neighbors up recently. It's high time we change that."
The Bison nodded and snorted. "Then," he extended a hoof, "I think we can get along."
As the Mayor took the large hoof and shook it with both hands, the townsfolk erupted into cheering and shouting. The one cowboy tossed up his hat yet again, and shot at it. As a gut reaction, the closest Bison roared and kicked out, knocking the man ten feet into the air and back into town- through a window on the second floor of the building closest to them.
"Whoops," the Bison leader winced. The Mayor, stunned, watched the cracks in the window, and then looked to the one Bison who had kicked out. The Leader held out his hoof, "Now, now, I'm sure he didn't mean that. Right, Rigby?"
"Yeah! Sorry," the one surprised Bison apologized.
"So," Soos walked over with Wanekia, who still massaged his shoulder, "Now that we're all buddies, do you think we can go get our friends now? We kind of have a mission."
"You... actually came to town to do somethin'?" the mayor gasped.
"Yeah?" Wendy asked. The Mayor looked between the two of you.
"There's nothing around here. Are you sure you ain't looking for area fifty one or somethin'?"
"C'mon dude," Soos chuckled, "Area fifty one is totally a hoax."
Two hours later, two cars and a bike were riding down a long dirt road.
The Jeep ride back to the mountain had been a quick one, alongside the traveling Bison and Wanekia. The townsfolk, along with the Mayor of Darkbark, had come to allow not only the re-planting and pasteurizing of the lands taken from the Bison, but had come to agree that the Bison would make wonderful guests. As tourist attractions went, highly intelligent and up-right psionic Bison sounded like a steal. The Bison's only other condition? Bud Gleeful was kicked out of town.
The two had been gifted quite a bit of presents. Wendy and Soos both received jackets. Wendy's was the one she had been looking at with Mabel- the one of nice black leather. Along with a pair of sunglasses that totally covered her brows and eyes, she had joked of her transformation into a terminator was complete. Soos had received a large, grey blue duster jacket, and a proud new tool belt for his collection. Despite Soos's protests, Wendy made it clear he was going to take the gifts.
Only half an hour later, they had gotten to Dipper and Mabel, who had somehow managed to do the exact same thing that Soos and Wendy had on the surface. The expedition of a dozen Bison returned to a collective of Bison who wanted peace with the town, and were thrilled to hear that it had already been done. Dipper, along with Mabel's convincing, had realized the Stone was simply a part of the Bison's hoard of collected junk. With their 'expert' diplomatic skills, they managed to acquire the stone for themselves. Dipper claimed Mabel just annoyed them to the point of giving them the stone for her to shut up, but Mabel insisted she was cryptically analyzing their sociological structure so they could see the error in their ways, and give her the stone anyway.
Finally tearing Mabel away from the 'Lady-Bison' and their manicure hour, the four only had a brief talk with Wanekia.
"I wish you all the best. May the spirits guide your path," he had said, and then turned to Wendy, "And may you find your spirit once more, lost child. Remember that your path is not yet lost." Then, with Ron the Australian retiree driving his hot-wired car, the two returned to town.
"I still can't believe he's not Swedish," Soos had shrugged. "Totally sounded like a Swedish-dude."
As the sun set behind them, the three vehicles stopped at a lonely gas-station on a ghostly high-way in the middle of the great, empty valley.
"Well, you guys rocked it," Dipper admitted, holding his arms together as he leaned against the cars, letting Soos fill up the three vehicles.
"Did we?" Wendy asked, grinning ear-to-ear.
"Only a billion times more than us!" Mabel cheered. "I mean, we had to keep playing nice and explaining to them that we were only here for this-" she held out the small marble, the Starkissed Stone "-and that war – what is it good for?"
"Absolutely nothing, dude," Soos shook his head.
"Still, that's another successful mission," Dipper smiled and nodded, "I mean, that's fantastic. Two for two so far."
"And not to mention, some mad skills on Wendy's part," Soos said, filling up her bike.
"Huh?" she asked.
"Yeah!" he told the twins. "She rocked the convincing of their leader. Like a boss and stuff, dudes!"
"Whoa!" Mabel clapped her hands together on her cheeks, "You are a warrior princess! Can even do royal diplomatic missions and things!"
"Sounds like her," Dipper chuckled, and winked at Wendy.
The redhead smirked and shook her head. "Thanks. Should have been there, you know?" she said, and looked back to Soos, her eyes twinkling.
Soos chuckled. "Yeah, was pretty cool," he said. The gas pump clicked. "Ah! We're good to go once I pay," Soos said as he stuffed the nozzle away.
"Cool! Shotgun!" Mabel roared.
"I'm driving, idiot," Dipper shook his head as dug into his ear with his pinky.
"I'm calling it either way!" Mabel protested.
"Thanks for filling her up," Wendy said to Soos, striding over with her new jacket and sunglasses.
"Yeah, no problem," Soos shrugged. Wendy started climb onto the motorcycle as he walked over to his car, where a pink pig awaited him in the passenger seat. Closing the door behind him after swiping the magical credit card of infinite money, Soos sighed and turned to Waddles. "Man, good thing you don't have to deal with Bison."
Waddles oinked.
"Heh," Soos shrugged, "I'm okay. I'm just glad Wendy was there. I mean," he put his hands on the wheel and stared ahead, his eyes lowering as he frowned, "I didn't really help much, did I? Couldn't have stopped those angry Bison if she..."
Waddles snorted, and nudged him with his nose.
"Ah, who am I kidding?" Soos smiled, and patted the pig with a smile. "You're a good pig, you know that dude?" Waddles blinked and snorted. "Hah, of course you do."
The bike sped past him, Wendy's billowing hair a flag of the trio of cars. Then Dipper's car followed. Soos watched them go, his stiffened smile faltering. Shifting the gear into forward from park, he couldn't help but wonder again.
Why did he feel just slightly... useless?
And so, the rage on the homestead is ceased. In my mind, the Bison and the townsfolk start doing performances and shows together, and the town begins to prosper. That is, until a scandal with Scarlet the Bison and a local bull throws the town back into obscurity. Freakin' scarlet. Just gotta go and ruin it for everyone. Ugh.
So there you are! Part two! Soos and Wendy are a tad more explored. Man. They have issues, huh? :p Hard to blame them though. They deal with a lot, and Wendy probably more so than anyone else.
And Bud Gleeful has made his return, and saw a butt-kicking. Was almost at the end of such butt-kicking too. Lucky guy got away with just a severe verbal lashing. Probably deserves a REAL lashing, but I might just be projecting his... UGH... son.
Who is coming. (NOT SOON BUT HE IS)
And before I go, sorry for those of you who I did not get back to. My email last week got REALLY scrambled (I blame myself, I am so sorry) and I think I lost places and tags of half the reviewers. I know you guys put some real thought into getting to chat with me, and I felt really bad that I couldn't get back to you like normal. Sorry for those I missed!
:(
Otherwise, next episode is "Warrios of Groom Lake". Some of you maaay know where I'm sending them now... enjoy. ;)
(A UFO hovers over EZB, and Zaps him instan0ly. With a loud 'pop', EZB is turned into popcorn. The 'popped-corn' falls and scatters to the ground. And THAT is how you get ants, guys.)
In the cold hours of night, at a ghostly gas station, a car, stacked with hastily stuffed briefcases and bags, pulled up. After it parked, Bud Gleeful finally puffed out, red in the face. To the side of the building stood a payphone. He stared at it, and snarled.
"One day, I'll get that darn cellphone back," he swore to himself in the dark, only barely lit by the faint light of the exterior building around him. Yet he reached into his pocket, and with a heavy sigh, withdrew a roll of quarters. Snapping the paper that bound it all together, he started piling them into the receiver.
"Aaand that should be enough," he grumbled, looking around himself. There wasn't a soul for miles. "C'mon, boy, pick up."
Then, with the loud click and mutter of a voice, someone answered.
"Gideon!" Bud cheerfully declared.
The voice was cool, yet commanding and entirely southern. To the ear of Bud Gleeful, it was as clear as day.
"Well, about that little town we were a talkin' about?" Bud asked, rolling his finger around the spring wire, "Darkbark? Right?" there was an answer, slow, uncertain. "Well... it didn't work. They chased me straight out of town."
Bud had to hold the phone away from his ear. Clear as the moon above him, the voice echoed around.
"-HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY I COULD LOSE IF YOU MESS UP AGAIN!?"
Bud slowly returned the phone to his ear. "N-Now boy, I know you got a good plan. Trust me, I'd sell it to a hundred people and scam each of them for it. But we knew it was risky. It didn't help neither when those stupid Pines came into town with-"
The voice in the phone snapped. The voice was deadly quiet, and then it asked of something.
Bud shuddered. "The Pines Twins. Daniel and Marcy or somethin' like that."
The voice was quiet again. Then there was an outcry- laughter. Bud gasped and leaned into the phone, trying make out the words through the laughter.
"Gideon, I don't think you're seeing this straight. She wasn't comin' lookin' for you, she and her brother were into town, trying to-" The other on the end cut him off. A few more words, this time more precise and cutting than before ate at Bud, who's body twitched and seized at certain whispered phrases.
"I can get another operation started. This ain't dead in the water by a long shot now," Bud promised, "Just a hiccup, and I can... you listening to me, boy?"
The voice answered after a long pause. Orders were given. Sharp, precise, unfiltered. Cruel. The person speaking to him had little else but authority in his voice as he demanded that Bud Gleeful followed through.
"A plane will cost-"
The voice shouted. It didn't care about prices.
"Well... then I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, son," Bud nodded into the phone before pushing it into the payphone. His face looked worn- years of his life gone. His age now showing, she lugged himself back to the car and slid inside. He would have a long, long travel ahead of him.
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