I tried something very different with this story: writing from a character's point of view. In this one, I took the portal scene from Not What He Seems and wrote from Mabel's eyes. Please tell me how you think I did with this style.

Anyway, enjoy!

"Mabel! Hurry! Shut it down!"

At Dipper's words, I pull myself toward the blinking light, grabbing hold of the post, even though every other force in this room is pulling me the other way.

"No, you can't! You gotta trust me!" It's Stan. Or, at least, I think it's Stan. I'm not even sure anymore. After everything we've done this summer, every memory we've made, I can't even tell what's true after all that's happened today.

I notice something floating in my field of sight. Tears. My tears. When did I start crying? I look through my blurred vision at my family. Stan, he looks so afraid. But why wouldn't he be? If he really is the master criminal Dipper is now certain he is, of course he'd be scared. I'm about to ruin all his plans by pressing this button. But what if that's not it? What if there's another reason he's so scared?

I sniff, choking on my crying. "Grunkle Stan, I don't even know if you're my grunkle. I wanna believe you, but..."

But what if I'm wrong?

"Then listen to me! Remember this morning when I said I wanted to tell you guys something?" Stan's voice is desperate now.

"T-minus twenty seconds," a computer voice says. I look up to see my family be thrown against the back wall. Dipper cries out in pain, and I flinch. He looks at me, eyes pleading with me. He's right. He has to be right. I curl my hand into a fist, preparing to bring it down on the button.

But I stop. My eyes shift back to Stan.

"I wanted to say that you're gonna hear some bad things about me, and some of 'em are true, but trust me. Everything I've worked for, everything I care about, it's all for this family!"

Everything for family...

"Mabel," Dipper yells, "what if he's lying? This thing could destroy the universe! Listen to your head!"

But my heart...

"Look into my eyes, Mabel!" Stan begs. "Do you really think I'm a bad guy?"

I- I don't want to...

"He's lying! Shut it down NOW!"

"Mabel, please!"

I look at my brother. The person I've always trusted most, my best friend, who's been there every moment of my life. He looks so scared. I'm scaring him. I can't do that. What kind of sister does that?

"Ten, nine..."

I close my eyes, my hand trembling above the button. I have to do it. I have to press it. I have to save my brother, my friends, my planet. But what about Stan? I glance up one last time.

And I see myself reflected in him.

I can't do this. "Grunkle Stan..."

"Six, five..."

I release the post and let the gravity carry me away from the one chance to end this all, shutting my eyes so I can't see how Dipper reacts.

"I trust you."

"Three..."

Grunkle Stan, please let me be right about you.

"Two..."

And Dipper...

"One."

Please forgive me.

I know I left out Dipper's last line ("Mabel are you crazy? We're all gonna-") but a) I don't think that Mabel heard him, and b) I thought it would have ruined the dramatic flow I had going. Anyway... hope you enjoyed this departure from the norm!