Chapter 1

"OH MY GOSH!" I flinched as my sister happy shriek pierced my ears, "Sapphire there's gonna be a pet show! Can we go please please please please please please please?!" She begged me, cutting off the circulation to my arm as she grasped onto it.

I growled and shook her off of me, "Ruby, pet shows are full of snobby people willing to sell of their pet's soul so they can look good and get a few bucks…" I glanced at my empty cup, wishing I had enough for a refill, "Which we could really use… I'm not wasting what money we have left for admission into some stupid contest…"

Ruby got right up in my face, "But Sapphire! We never get to do anything fun!" She whined.

"And if you didn't loose us every job we got, we would have enough money to do fun things…"I muttered under my breath so she wouldn't hear me.

"What was that?" She asked me.

I sighed, "The answer's a no Ruby. Now finish your drink. Probably gonna be the last bit of purified water we'll have for the month. We'll have to get water from the streams until we get more money…"

"But Sapphire!" She whimpered, staring into my soul with her bright blue eyes. I couldn't help but glace over to her left one, which is always noticeably brighter. A reminder to me always, that she didn't have any memories of doing anything fun anymore.

You did this to her… You monster…

I shook my head, sighing, "Fine… But you'll be helping at the next job we get…" I mumbled, handing over what little cash we had left.

Ruby squealed and grabbed my hand dragging me down to where the show was taking place, only to find a run down little shack there. I stuck a twig in the ground, looking at the shadow, "We're a few hours early Ruby. You said it started at 10:00 AM right? Well it's 8 right now. Look, just go into the weird store and look around. I gotta go take a wiz behind a tree or some shit."

"Alright. Come in after you're done." She said as she skipped into the store.

I walked into the stood, a big smile on my face. Maybe I could find something here that I could give to Sapphire. She never smiles, and I'm determined to-

"OH MY GOSH A PIG!" I squealed before rushing over to the pig and hugging him.

"Ah, I see you're a pig lover huh?" I looked up to see a girl my age walking over to me, "He's my pet pig, and his name is Waddles. I call him that because waddles. Waaaaaaadles!" She laughed as she took her pig and made him waddle.

I laughed as well before sticking out my hand, "My name's Ruby. Nice to meet you!"

The girl took my hand and shook it, "My name's Mabel! The pleasure's mine! Hey, are you here for the pet show?" She asked me.

I nodded, "Yeah. My sister gave me the rest of her money to get into the show."

Mabel waved her hand down, "Pft, no need. I'm sure I can get you in for free! Gruncle Stan!" She called and a man in a suit came in, "Gruncle Stan, my friend Ruby wants to get into the Pet Show we're having. Can we get her in for free?"

"Only if she can help set up. Then yeah, I don't see why not. I'm feeling generous today!" he said.

Mabel and I looked at each other and smiled. This was gonna be great!

I sighed as I stood up, looking around as I zipped up my pants. Then I took my rope and tried it as a belt.

Ruby better not have gotten into any trouble while I was gone… I muttered to myself.

As I walked jogged through the forest, I looked around, recognizing the towering trees that blocked out the sunlight. How long had it been since I'd been here? A year? Two years?

CRASH!

"OWW!" I yelled, falling backwards. Leaves flew in the air as I hit the ground, getting shit in my mouth, "Hey watch where you're going bitch!" I snapped, glaring at the person who ran into me.

"I could say the same to you asshole!" He suddenly covered his mouth, "Oh my gosh I am so sorry! I have no idea where that came from!" He said as he stood up, "Here, let me help you up." He stuck out his hand to pull me up, but I just pushed it away.

"I can get up by myself, thank you very much…" I muttered, brushing myself off. I then looked at the boy. He certainly was wimpy looking. Though his cap gave him a sorta cool look.

"OK, well sorry…" He muttered, "So what are you doing out here? Don't you know it's dangerous out here?"

"It's none of your business boy." I growled, "I just came out here to do something and take a look around. I know these woods like the back of my hand."

The boy chuckled, "Oh I doubt it sissy. These woods hold more secrets than you know…" He picked a strangely familiar book off the ground and placed it in his jacket, "So where're you heading?"

"Mystery Shack." I grumbled, "My sister decided to use the rest of our money for a stupid pet show…"

The boy suddenly smiled, "I'm heading that was right now! Why don't you come along with me?"

I scowled, "I would never-" But I stopped cold when I felt an eerily familiar gaze on me, "Actually, thanks. I'll walk with you." I muttered with a shiver, glancing up to the tree tops, where I saw the transparent, shimmering outline of a triangle.

He was still here…

"Hey, what'cha looking at?" The boy asked me, looking to my focal point.

I shook my head, "Probably just my imagination… Come on let's go." I looked to the boy, "Oh by the way, I never got your name."

"Oh yeah!" The boy stuck out his hand for me to shake, "Name's Dipper Pines. What's yours?"

I turned away, "Sapphire. Sapphire Rivers." I muttered, "Can we go already?"

Dipper nodded and we went back to the shack, where Ruby was talking with some other girl on the porch.

Ruby looked over to me and waved, grinning ear to ear, "Sapphire! I want you to meet my new friend Mabel!"

I stopped in my tracks, stiffened, "Friend?"

Dipper looked to me, "Something wrong Sapphire?"

Ruby stood up and walked over to me, "Sapphire? What's up?"

I glanced behind me, then sighed, "Ruby, we have to go…"

"What? Why?" Ruby gasped, "What about the pet show?! You promised you'd let me see it!" She whimpered.

I scowled, "Look Ruby. There's something around here that's dangerous, and we need to get as far away as possible."

"But I wanna see the Pet Show!" She got up in my face and stared into my eyes, "Please?!" Her left eye glowing more clearly than normal.

I flinched, You did that to her you monster… I almost gave in, until I realized, and it'll happen again if she's not kept safe…

I shook myself, "No Ruby. Remember what I told you?" I whispered in her ear, "Trust no one…"

Ruby pushed me away, "It's not my fault that you have trust issues Sapphire! Why won't you trust anyone?! Why don't you trust me?!"

"I'm only trying to protect you Ruby!" I snapped, and then recoiled. I had finally snapped, and yelled at my twin sister.

But Ruby's eyes softened, "Sapphire… Is it that man you were talking about? The one that caused my amnesia?"

"Amnesia? You mean-" Dipper started.

Ruby nodded, "Two years ago, in this forest, I lost every memory I had. Sapphire knows how it happened though, but refuses to tell me."

I opened my mouth to explain, but Mabel beat me to it, "Oh you poor thing! Come on in. We'll help you out." Mabel took her inside.

Dipper then looked to me, "So… You do know then… About the secrets of this town?"

I narrowed my eyes, "I trust no one with my secrets."

Dipper starte

d, "Sapphire-"

"HEY DIPPER! Bring her in! We're gonna eat!" I heard a voice from inside.

My stomach rumbled at the mention. Ruby and I hadn't had anything to eat in a week.

Dipper looked to me and smiled, "Come on. We'll talk over brunch."

Dipper took me into the shack and into the housing quarters. Mabel and Ruby were already eating cinnamon pancakes, stuffing their faces and making a mess.

At the counter were two guys that looked to be twins, but one looked older than the other, "Come on in sweetheart. How do you like your hot cakes?' Asked the younger one.

I sat down slowly at the table, looking around anxiously. I never liked the indoors. It made me feel like a trapped animal…

"What's up with her?" The older one asked.

"She's always been like this as far as I can remember." Ruby said through a mouth full of whipped cream.

I cringed, "Ruby, eat with your mouth closed. We're not animals…"

"Wait, I thought she was Sapphire!" The older one said, "I mean, aren't rubies supposed to be red like your eyes, and sapphires blue like her eyes?"

I shrugged, "I guess. We didn't choose our names…"

Dipper sat next to me and pulled out that book from before, "So you said that something wiped Ruby's memories right? Maybe we can figure something out…" He brushed the leaves off the cover and I gasped.

"Where'd you find that?" I asked.

Dipper gave me a funny look, "In the woods… Why?"

The younger of the men came over, "I wrote that journal. Never did finish it though…"

Dipper looked up to him, "But what about all that invisible ink Stanly?"

Stanly had a confused look, "Invisible ink?"

"That was my doing…" I muttered, opening the journal, "It's meant to show under the full moon, but certain artificial lights can reveal the ink as well. I didn't want my friend to find anything out, so I made an invisible ink and recorded my own findings." I took Dippers blacklight flashlight and shined it over a few of my writings.

"Friend?" Dipper asked me.

I nodded, "Yeah… And after we split, I hid all the journals, but it seems you found one."

"We actually have all three of them!" Mabel said with a wide grin.

I sighed, "Then you know about-" I was cut off by a knock on the door, "How many times am I gonna be cut off today?!"

Mabel squealed and opened the door, letting three girls and a boy in.

I held back a shriek of utter terror.

The boy looked to be about 12, our age. He had golden eyes with cat-like pupils, wavy golden blond hair, and an eye patch over one eye. He wore a yellow suit with black pants and shoes, along with matching bowtie and top hat.

"Grenda! Candy! Pacifica! And who's the cute boy?" She asked with a wink.

Pacifica took the boy's hand, "Oh, this is my new boyfriend. His name's Clint."

Clint stepped up and gave a curt bow, "Nice to meet you Mabel." He said. That voice… That's defiantly him…

I cleared my throat, "Clint… I need to talk to you outside…" I said as I left the room. "Clint" shrugged and followed me outside.

We went behind the house, and I turned to face him,"What are you doing here? I thought I said I never wanted to see you again!" I growled.

"Clint" laughed, "Oh relax Sappy! I'm not here to hurt anyone!

I hissed and tried to slap him, only for my hand to freeze by a strange blue aura. "Clint" just laughed, "You're gonna have to try harder than that Sappy. Just don't anger me, and we'll get along just fine." My hand was released and he went inside.

I growled, "No… I won't let you hurt her… Not this time Bill…"