"I can't believe you've never been to the mystery shack!" Mabel was saying as the group walked into the old shack. Bree looked around uninterested.
"I've never seen the need. This is all fake stuff…. Except maybe that." She pointed to the statue of Stan. "I don't really care about this place."
Mabel laughed. "Oh come on!" She rushed over to one of the displays. "This place is amazing! I love it here!"
"This is where we first came when we came to Gravity Falls." Dipper looked over at a display of hats just like his. He smiled. "It's been a long time since we first came here."
"I still don't see the appeal."
"Welcome!"
Bree jumped as the man behind her spoke up. She went stumbling and clutched at her chest. The man started fussing over her.
"I'm sorry! Are you alright?!"
"Jezz I knew coming to a place Stanley Pines built was a bad idea." She grumbled.
"You know Stan?" Soos asked. Dipper smiled at the old handy man who now ran the mystery shack.
"Yeah I know him." Bree frowned. "He nearly ran over my grandma."
"Oh." Soos froze.
"Hey Soos how are you?" Dipper interrupted. "Are you and Melody doing well?"
"Yes." Soos smiled. "Melody is feeling sick a little but that can't be helped." Soos laughed. "I'm mostly having to keep little Ally away from her when she's really sick."
"Where is Ally?" Mabel asked, sitting on the Mystery Shack front desk.
"Abuelita took her to the park." Soos pulled out his wallet which was full of pictures of Melody and Ally. The little light brown haired girl was squeezing a mouse stuffed animal in most of the picture.
"How old is she now?" Dipper asked as Soos put away the wallet.
"She'll turn three next month." Soos smiled. "She's getting so big."
"She's such a little cutie!" Mabel grinned. "Does she like the dress I made her?"
"She's wearing it today." Soos nodded. "Oh yeah Mabel." Soos reached behind the desk. "I got a letter for you yesterday."
"Here?" Dipper asked as Soos pulled out a bottle. "That's the letter?"
Soos nodded and passed the bottle over to Mabel. "It's from Mermando!" Mabel pulled out the letter and began to read it over.
"Whose Mermando?" Bree asked.
"One of Mabel's many crushes from when we were twelve. He's a merman technically." Dipper whispered. "Mabel had a problem with crushing on creatures." Dipper chuckled. "She dated a bunch of gnomes our first week."
"A merman… Wait gnomes?" Bree was shaking her head. "And I thought I was weird."
Dipper chuckled. "You have no idea."
"We have to go!" Mabel jumped up. The color from her face had palled.
"What's wrong?"
"We've got to go see Grunkle Ford!" Mabel rushed out the door. Dipper looked at Bree and she shrugged. The two nodded and then hurried out. A short drive later they arrived at Stan and Ford's place. Dipper pulled up his car and parked it. Stan was lounging in a chair on the front lawn, wearing his typical loose cotton white tank top and boxers. Bree grumbled something under her breath in the backseat.
"Hey kids." Stan said as they climbed out of the car. "What's up?"
"Where's Grunkle Ford?" Mabel asked.
"Down in his lab." Stan looked over at Bree. "What's she doing here?" He didn't look happy to see her.
"Nice to see you too." Bree folded her arms over her chest. "Run anyone over recently?"
"Throw anything at people?" Stan frowned.
"Not recently… But you are testing me."
"I'll go get Ford." Dipper said, leaving Mabel to sort out the problems between the two. Ford's lab was built into the basement and was easier to get to than the old lab. It was also a lot larger. "Hey Grunkle Ford." Dipper called as he headed down the stairs. "Mabel needs your help." He heard an explosion and hurried down closer. He found Ford looking at a little ord. "Grunkle Ford?"
"Oh hello Dipper." He smiled. "Look what I created!" He held up the orb. "An explosion in an orb. This could be quite useful." He grinned.
"That's cool." Dipper shook his head. "But Mabel needs your help with something."
"Very well." Ford grabbed his jacket, which was hanging on the back of a chair and they hurried up the stairs. They found Bree and Mabel laughing and Stan had left. "Hello Mabel, Bree." Ford said. "What can I do for you girls?"
Mabel looked at Ford. "My friend needs help. He's being hunted by a strange creature." Mabel gripped the bottle in her hand. "We need to help him."
"How are we supposed to help him if he's at sea?" Dipper asked.
"Wait what are we talking about?" Ford asked looking between Dipper and Mabel.
"Mermando." Mabel said.
"A merman that Mabel had a crush on that first summer." Dipper said. "But I thought he went off and got married to what was it a dolphin?" Dipper asked.
"A manatee. The queen of the manatee." Mabel frowned. "And he came back to Gravity Falls after being chased by a strange sea creature. He came for my help."
"So where is he right now" Ford asked.
"His letter says he's hiding out in a cave in Gravity Falls' lake. He said that there is water and land there so we can breath and talk there. Please Grunkle Ford can we help him?!"
Ford smiled. "Of course. Give me a minute to go find some equipment for us to dive." He paused half way back to the house. "Bree will you be joining us."
"I…" Bree looked at Mabel and sighed. "I guess I'll help Mabel."
"Yeah!" Mabel hugged Bree, who looked very uncomfortable. "You're a good friend." Bree didn't seem to know how to respond to that.
It wasn't long before the group of them arrived at the lake. Stan had decided to join them, much to Bree's annoyance. Mabel pulled on her scuba gear. She waded out into the water. "Come on!" Her voice was distorted by the gear.
"Shall we?" Bree smiled hefting the breathing tube into her back.
Dipper nodded and followed. Mabel apparently knew the way as she started swimming. Their grunkles followed a little behind. Dipper glanced over at Bree as she swam near him. He noticed she wasn't wearing her necklace, the one she always had tucked under her shirt. Dipper looked back out at the water in front of them where Mabel was swimming. She was swimming faster than the rest of them. Dipper wanted to laugh but froze. He turned and looked back. Ford and Stan had fallen behind a bit. Bree was between Dipper and Mabel and the two Grunkles. Dipper paddled slightly but froze as a dark shadow darted through the water. Merman- "GRUNKLE FORD!" Dipper cried out as loud as he could but with the breathing gear there was no way they could hear him. He started swimming towards them right as the shadow reached them. Atbasth
The creature looked like a lizard covered in dark blue green scales with a fish tail for legs. The creature went straight for Ford and Stan. Dipper watched as Bree shot forward and slammed into the creature sending it flopping away from the two older men. That got Ford and Stan's attention. They started to speed up towards Mabel. "BREE!" Dipper yelled, but it didn't travel far.
She started to swim quickly, reaching him quickly. She shot him a look that seemed to say hurry. He sped up but kept glancing backwards, the creature had disappeared. Not much later they reached a cave entrance. Mabel looked over at them. "What happened out there?" She asked after they surfaced for air in the cave.
"Are you okay Bree?" Ford asked taking off his own equipment.
"I'm fine." She pulled herself up onto the rocky gravel of the cave. She flinched, a long scratch ran down her leg.
"What did that?" Mabel asked.
"The monster." A voice spoke up. "You fought it?" A man with a fish tail and long brown hair spoke.
"Mermando!" Mabel grinned.
"Hello Mabel." The man spoke. "Dipper. Who are your friends?"
"This is my Grunkle Stan, Grunkle Ford and Bree." Mabel pointed to each of them as they spoke. "And we are here to help you."
"How do you plan to do that?" Mermando asked. "I came back for a small trip… And that thing trapped me in here." Mermando sat in a small pond of water that wasn't connected with the rest of the water. "I… haven't been able to leave for the past two days… Every time I try it comes after me."
"It's got claws I can see how that can make it difficult." Bree grumbled as she rubbed her leg. "Stan, Ford you two need to be more careful and observe your surroundings."
"Or what?" Stan shot back at her.
"You should be a little nicer to her Grunkle Stan, she did just save you from that monster." Dipper said pulling himself back up onto the gravel ground.
"Don't." Bree grumbled. She looked away. "I just couldn't see them get torn apart… I'm not cruel." She stood up and walked over to Mermando. "So you're a merman... Interesting I always thought you would be a lot different."
"What were you expecting?" Mermando blinked.
"A hunk." Bree shrugged. "But whatever." She looked at Ford. "Well you are the monster expert, what do you suggest Ford?"
He seemed to think for a while. "Well the monster doesn't look like it is going to be able to chase you as well out at sea… There's a lot more space. So I saw we get your friend out to the Ocean."
"I've tried that." Mermando interrupted. "Every time I try it chases me back here. The entrance is too small for it, that's the only thing that has saved my life. I don't dare stick my tail in the water either in case it manages to sneak it's way back in again."
"That was when you were alone." Mabel pointed out. "There are five of us now to help you."
"Agreed." Ford nodded. "We'll provide back up… Try to catch the creature. I am curious." Ford was rubbing his chin. "I bet we can find a big enough fish tank to store it in the lab."
"Not again." Stan sighed. "I thought we agreed no more pets in the lab after that whole three headed dog thing."
"I'm not planning on keeping it as a pet." Ford frowned. "And Shadow wasn't that bad a pet. He only chewed up the rug once."
"The whole rug!" Stan frowned. "In the whole house!"
"Okay!" Bree grumbled. "Are we going to make our decision now?"
"Let's do this together!" Mabel pumped her fist.
After making their plans Dipper wasn't not happy. He was the bait. He kicked his feet in the water to stay in one place as he looked around. He glanced over to see everyone else resting in hiding spots except for Mermando who was slowly swimming towards Dipper. He didn't look any happier than Dipper felt. Dipper glanced around in search of the creature but didn't see it. He narrowed his eyes but still nothing.
Mermando finally reached him and they started to swim. "So um… How's it going with that wife of yours?" Dipper called out through his face mask.
Mermando looked away sheepishly. "I'd rather not talk about that." He whispered.
Dipper chuckled and looked around. "I wonder why- THERE!" He yelled as loud as he could. He could see the creature swimming towards them. Dipper tensed. He really hated being bait. "SWIM!" Dipper yelled and Mermando took off towards the ocean. Dipper swam along behind him as fast as he could. He really hoped the others would come out soon.
He glanced over his shoulder, the creature was gaining on them. And then he saw Mabel and Stan coming out and chasing after the creature. Let's just hope this works! He sped up a little. Mermando was ahead of him now and speeding towards the open sea. Something grabbed his ankle and he creature had him, and then it let go. He looked back to see a grappling hook swirled around the creature's ankle. It was being pulled backwards by Ford and Mabel. Dipper looked down at his ankle where a red mark was already starting to form. He rubbed it and then swam after Mermando. "Go!" He waved his hand.
Mermando looked back and got a shocked look on his face. Something blurred past him. Dipper watched as the creature, dragging a shocked Ford, lunged at Mermando. He heard Mermando scream and then in slow motion Dipper watched as Ford pulled out an orb from his pocket and threw it with as much force as he could. The orb hit the creature and exploded. The creature was sent flying off towards the sea floor, bleeding.
Ford gestured for the surface and everyone, including Mermando. "Is everyone okay?" Mabel called after everyone surfaced.
"Yeah." Stan called out. "Poindexter what was that?"
"An explosion in an orb." Ford sighed. "No way the creature survived that. Darn it there goes my sample and myy orb."
"Thank you Grunkle Ford!" Mabel flung her arms around Ford's neck. "Thank you! You saved Mermando!"
Ford just smiled. "No problem Mabel."
"That creature tore out some of my scales." Mermando complained. "What was that?"
"Some kind of sea creature." Bree looked down at sea. "I'm glad that it's gone." She rubbed her leg. "But I doubt I'll be swimming in the lake for a while."
"I've never seen anything like it." Ford nodded. "Mermando here is the second intelligent creature with a fin I've seen."
"Second?" Stan frowned. "Oh right that mermaid we ran into a couple years ago. Ford went all goo goo eyes for her."
"If I remember correctly you were the one who went goo goo eyes for her." Ford frowned.
"Eh heh." Mermando coughed. "If you would excuse me I would like to leave before that creature returns."
"The creature is long dead." Dipper smiled. "You're safe."
"Go home!" Mabel smiled. "I'm sure your beautiful wife is waiting for you."
"Right…" Mermando muttered slightly and then swam off.
Mabel smiled. "Ah love…"
Dipper and Bree exchanged a look and both shrugged. "Let's head back to shore." Bree started swimming. "As much as I trust your little explosion ball Ford I would rather not test to see if that creature is truly dead."
"I'm telling you there is no way the creature is alive." Ford swam after her starting to explain how powerful the explosion was and how nothing could survive it.
Dipper just chuckled and began to swim back.
Ƥ Ƥ Ƥ Ƥ Ƥ Ƥ
Bree threw her towel onto her bed and collapsed after it. She stretched out her arms and sighed. "Ugh that was exhausting." She looked over at the small brown box on her desk and reached over to it, pulling out her necklace. She hadn't brought it for fear of losing it in the water. "I wonder what that creature was… I kind of reminded me of a demon…" She rubbed a ringer over the cool metal of the pendent. She rolled over onto her stomach and reached down to pull out her Pine's family folder. "I think I was wrong." She whispered. "Dipper and Mabel…" She smiled. "They might just be my first real friends in a long time… Still don't like Ford or Stan though." She chuckled.
She slid out the picture of the younger Dipper, Mabel and Stan. "It's time I stop holding their families against them." She tossed the news clipping into the trash and slid the folder back into it's place. "It's not their fault they're related to Ford and Stan." She curled up and yawned before slowly falling asleep.
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The sea demon dragged itself to the beach and whimpered. It's fin lay limp and bloodied in the water. It should have been curled up and licking it's wounds but it couldn't. It screeched weakly and clawed at it's neck. A small jangle rang out as the bones tucked into its scale pouch shifted. The demon tried for the hundredth time to remove the ring of bones, but was unable to. A jolt ran through the creature's body as heavy footsteps came walking towards it.
The creature whimpered and slid forward the handful of scales it had retrieved from the merman. It weakly whimpered as a large hand reached down and scooped up the scales, jangling them in his hand. The demon jangled the bone ring again. And it was met with a boot to the face. The creature whimpered but all it's energy was gone and it slowly floated out to the middle of the lake before slowly sinking down to the bottom.
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